A perfect final masterpiece which was amazing because it does not seem to be aiming for some sort of fame or breakthrough achievement, but is focused purely on presenting true Japanese culture, especially on the level of respect towards the elders.
I also liked the fact that this movie is very different from most of its peers as it does not project a melancholic, sentimentalized or negative perspective on the 'later stages of life' but instead every single character embraces life and death with profound down-to-earth humour. The Sensei continues to 'mentor' his ex-students with his unconventional wisdom and creative peculiar moments, and his own students not only accepted him for being eccentric but find him a powerful inspiration that does not fade with time.
What makes this movie timeless:
I also liked the fact that this movie is very different from most of its peers as it does not project a melancholic, sentimentalized or negative perspective on the 'later stages of life' but instead every single character embraces life and death with profound down-to-earth humour. The Sensei continues to 'mentor' his ex-students with his unconventional wisdom and creative peculiar moments, and his own students not only accepted him for being eccentric but find him a powerful inspiration that does not fade with time.
What makes this movie timeless:
- The level of companionship, collective happiness and mutual feelings exhibited from 'Mada-dai' party will be one of the most memorable happy scenes from a movie that I will forever cherish. - A superb presentation of traditional Japanese culture: loyalty towards the elders, serene lifestyle, consideration towards other people, communial events etc that is, to date, stronger than any other movies I have come across (it even surpassed Omehido Poro Poro in this respect) - the role of Kyoko. Her silent, restraint but energetic and passionate acting performance provides solid support to the rest of the cast, despite a mere few conversational lines. The only thing lacking is the maternal aspect of her role as they did not bore children. - The lonely aspects of ageing: A large portion of the film was focused on the highs-and-lows involving their home cat, which also reveal sensei's vulnerability towards emotional wrecking. This is very realistic as they did not have children. - the students and the neighbour. I have never seen such commitment in they intended to carry out to help fulfil other's wishes. The neighbour's thoughtful decisions reflected the same attitude displayed by those in the aftermath of the Quake/Tsunami crisis today. - the sensei's unique outlook on life and his fire for living; I have watched way too many similar movies where the ageing, dying characters were overcome by the fact of death that they literally stopped living. - the songs or chantings were too good to forget