[net.movies] Dersu Ursala

majka@ubc-vision.CDN (Marc Majka) (02/16/85)

The film was made in the eastern USSR, not really "Siberia". The director
was Akira Kurasawa (most definately Japanese).  The film has been in North
America for at least 4 or 5 years.  I first saw it in Vancouver B.C. in
1981.  Star Wars fans should love this film:  the title character is a short
wise old fellow who lives as a hermit in the woods, who teaches a young
military officer all the ways of wisdom.  Even more of a shock to see
"Return of the Jedi" went it first came out, long after this film was in
circulation.

---
Marc Majka - UBC Laboratory for Computational Vision

rogers@reed.UUCP (Michael Rogers) (02/16/85)

I have seen DERSU URSALA adverstised and seen
previews for the last couple of years (in Chicago
and Portland, OR).  I ashamedly admit that I
haven't taken the opportunity to see it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that it
was directed by Akira Kurosawa (which would make
it a Japanese film, not a Soviet one).

		Mike
		tektronix!reed!rogers

boris@sftri.UUCP (B.Altman) (02/20/85)

> Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that it
> was directed by Akira Kurosawa (which would make
> it a Japanese film, not a Soviet one).
> 		Mike
> 		tektronix!reed!rogers

Yes I would like to correct you. First, I think Dersu Uzala would be the right
transliteration. Second, the movie is more Soviet than Japanese. It has more
Soviet actors (I think) "very Soviet" style, and ~99% funded by USSR.
I have seen it about 10 years ago (in USSR) and I did not think of it
as a "foreign" movie at that time.
If the nationality of the director determines the "origin" of a movie,
than "Maria's Lovers" would be a Russian movie. I would not agree
with that assertion.
			Boris Altman
			{ihnp4,ucbvax}!attunix!boris