High And Low

Criterion brings us yet another masterpiece from the great Akira Kurosawa, in this adaptation of Ed McBain’s King’s Ransom. Toshiro Mifune stars as Kingo Gondo, a wealthy industrialist and the target of a kidnapper who bungles the job when he mistakenly snatches up the son of Gondo’s chauffeur instead. As it happens, Mifune’s character had been planning to thwart a plan to cheapen the quality of his products by buying out the firm, but the money demanded for ransom would wipe out his chances of completing the deal. Faced with a moral dilemma – lose the empire he’s built, or save the life of his servant’ child, Gondo wrestles with his conscience and the police, as they attempt to capture the guilty parties. Kurosawa uses the concept of high and low literally: Gondo is a wealthy executive living in a big house on a hill, while everyone else around him represents the “lower” class in just about every way. The director paints a portrait of modern Japanese culture and its moral ambiguities, while simultaneously crafting a tense thriller that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. A nice collection of essays complement the beautiful transfer, making High And Low an essential addition to fans of film noir, Akira Kurosawa and Criterion collectors. 

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