Captain Vladimir Arseniev (Solomine), leading a topographic expedition deep into the wilds of 19th-century Siberia, meets an old woodsman, Dersu Uzula (Munzuk), who shows him the ways of nature. The two men become close friends over a number of expeditions in which Uzula acts as guide.
Each time Arseniev tries to convince the hardy but aging Siberian to return to the city with him, the latter refuses. Finally Uzala does go to the city, but he finds that he cannot readily adapt.
Akira Kurosawa filmed in the USSR with an all-Soviet cast, but a Japanese cinematographer, Asakazu Nakai, photographed the production in 70mm. The first half is wonderful, full of reverence for nature and the man who lives in it. However, it becomes increasingly obvious, literal, and rather
ponderous as it progresses. Still these faults cannot detract from DERSU UZALA's magnificence. Like so much of Kurosawa's work, this is a film of great humanism and respect. leave a comment
