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Respect In Akira Kurosawa's 'Dersu Uzala'

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The purpose of Akira Kurosawa’s Dersu Uzala is the importance of respect for others. During the first expedition, the soldiers, Captain Arseniev, and Dersu Uzala find a hut in the forest. Before the group leaves, Uzala fixes the hut and asks Captain Arseniev if they could leave rice, matches, and salt behind for the next travelers. Although Uzala may never meet the travelers, he respects them and helps to ensure their safety in the forest. While Uzala and the soldiers sit around a fire in the forest, the soldiers laugh at Uzala when he explains that all of nature are “men”. Kurosawa uses this scene to demonstrate Uzala’s respect of nature. On the second expedition, a tiger follows the group. Uzala stops and warns the tiger to go away and that …show more content…

In Goldi culture, it is common for families to rely on nature. Uzala uses his knowledge of nature to his advantage as he leads the soldiers through the forest. At the end of the first expedition, Uzala and the soldiers encounter an old Chinese man. When the Chinese man leaves, he thanks the captain by bowing while the captain shakes his hand. This example of a cultural difference between the two groups demonstrates the importance of respect for both cultures. At the end of the film, Uzala is upset when he shoots and kills a tiger. He states that Kanga, a spirit in his belief system would send another tiger. Kurosawa uses this cultural aspect to demonstrate Uzala’s respect of nature. Kurosawa uses the rule of thirds throughout the film. In the beginning of the film, the camera focuses on the fire on the left side, Captain Arseniev in the middle, and his bag on the right. Kurosawa uses the rule of thirds to create energy in a shot and allows for balance in the film. While Uzala and Captain Arseniev are in the grass hut that Uzala builds, Uzala blows out the light and the scene fades out. Kurosawa uses this transition to create an illusion as time passes by in the film. Kurosawa uses lighting in the scene when Uzala shoots at a tiger. The lighting focuses on the tiger and darkens the surrounding forest. This use of lighting allows for viewers to focus on the disrespect

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