Drunken Angel (1948)

It had been more than 1.5 years since my last Akira Kurosawa viewing. More than 2.5 years since my last characteristic Kurosawa viewing. And just about half a year since my last viewing to make me nostalgic for Kurosawa. So I was rather glad to discover what Netflix had delivered while I was off on vacation.

Dr. Sanada (Takashi Shimura) treats Matsunaga (Toshirō Mifune) initially for an injury hinting at gang violence, but that's not as great a concern as the compelling evidence of tuberculosis. Matsunaga doesn't take this news well at all, as being a yakuza makes any sign of weakness dangerous; besides, TB hinders his ability to enjoy vices. Complicating matters is the return of his boss from prison, who incidentally used to be in a relationship with Sanada's assistant....

Make no mistake: The crime-related thrills take a back seat in terms of screen time. This story is mostly about the interactions between Sanada and Matsunaga. The latter makes a poor patient indeed, not just in his reluctance to follow directions but in his liability to strangle the doctor at a moment's notice. You'd think they'd stop having anything more to do with each other, yet time after time, one voluntarily visits the other or vice versa. Perhaps there is something in each man that craves contact, if not conflict, with the very different.

As the title implies, Sanada is often drunk. I don't hold that against him; doctors are only human and can't be expected to practice everything they preach. But he acts too unprofessional for my approval. It's one thing to get blunt with a patient because of his criminal lifestyle; it's another to throw things at him as he retreats, even if he attacked first. Makes me wonder whether Japanese doctors in the '40s had to take the Hippocratic Oath.

The Netflix jacket accentuates the "angel" part, saying that Sanada goes above and beyond the call of duty to help Matsunaga. He's not as impressive as that sounds: Mainly he just nags. This nagging is not exclusive to his dealings with Matsunaga. Sanada does travel to a bad neighborhood uninvited just to check up on him, tho.

I'm afraid it's still not my kind of Kurosawa classic. Nor do I care to check out another yakuza film. But it is a decent drama for passing 98 minutes. And all the more interesting for having Kurosawa and Mifune so early in their careers.