Scene Analysis: Seven Samurai - Kyuzo's Duel

The scene I analyze is the duel of Kyuzo. In less than two minutes, Akira Kurosawa builds up the great image of a master swordsman.


The video is on S Drive->Public->Japanese Film->Scene Analysis Clips

Shot 1: A medium long shot. Camera captures this shot from behind. Kyuzo is farther from the camera than the other samurai to show that he is about to leave after the first time duel. What Kyuzo says would reflect what happens later in the scene.

Shot 2: A medium long shot. Camera captures from front. The other samurai is about to draw his sword and wants to duel Kyuzo with real sword.

Shot 3: An extreme long shot. It covers a large and wide area to show the flee of the villagers because of the dueling of two samurais. It shows the timidity of villagers.

Shot 4: A long shot. This shot shows the stance of ready to duel of both samurais. It also place Kambei, Katsushiro and other villagers at the back of the shot to give audience an idea of where everyone is in the scene.

Shot 5: An extreme long shot. Camera goes back to the villagers to show the coming back of the villagers. They want to see the duel of two samurais but they are also afraid to be injured.

Shot 6: A long shot. Camera moves back to the duel to show the duel is starting.

Shot 7: A medium long shot. Kambei seems like very calm but Katsushiro seems like little worried. They stand together to show Kambei is an experienced samurai and pave the way for Kambei's judgement.

Shot 8: A long shot. It is interesting to look at two different ways to hold swords. Kyuzo look like very calm and patient but the other samurai is irritable. He reminds me of Kikuchiyo who wants to be a samurai so he shows off his sword all the time.

Shot 9: A long shot. Camera moves back to Kambei, Katsushiro and villagers.

Shot 10: A long shot. Kyuzo barely moves. He waits for another samurai to come near him and hit him.

Shot 11: A medium shot. Kambei and villagers step forward to show that they want to know the result of the duel but Katsushiro is still worried and it shows his innocence as a samurai.

Shot 12: A long shot. Kyuzo stands still and the other samurai fells down.

Shot 13: A medium shot. Camera quickly moves back to the others and we can see Kambei shows his eagerness towards Kyuzo on his face.

Shot 14: A medium close-up. It is interesting to give a close-up to Katsushiro as the end of the scene instead of giving to Kyuzo. Probably director wants to show how this duel influence Katsushiro to be a better samurai.

I Was Born, But... First Blossay

Shichao Li

Japanese Film Study

Professor Matthew Mizenko

September 13 2015

This frame contains for characters, two sons of Mr. Yoshii, who plays the role of father in the film, Taro, the son of the boss Iwasaki and another boy who plays with them. The two brothers are almost doing the same kind of action and wearing the same kind of hats, sweaters, shorts, and pants. For those who has not seen the film, they can easily tell that the two boys have some kind of relationship, such as brothers or best friends. The only thing these two boys differ from each other is the color they have on their clothes. The older brother has white hat and white sweater, instead, the younger brother has brown hat and sweater. It indicates that the older brother is more open, he can easily get along with anyone else but the younger brother is more tentative. Throughout the film, this opinion is actually proven. The frame cuts the two brothers head off, instead, Taro has his whole body shown to the audience. The director may want to indicate that Taro actually has more power than the two brothers because Taro's father is the boss of the two brothers' father. Compare to the two brothers, Taro has a better outwear and hat. Instead of wearing shorts and slippers, Taro wears pants and shoes to indicate that he is from a higher class than the two brothers. The black color he wears refers that he is a more calm person than the two brothers. The shadow on the wall is from Taro. I am not sure what that means but I guess the director wants to say that Taro is a more real "person" than the rest of the characters in the frame. The boy lies on the ground is just a symbol of showing the "power" the two brothers have among all the children.

We have seen a lot this action the two brothers do throughout the whole film. Among all the children, only the most powerful can do the action to others. No matter what, the other boy has to lie on the ground. Therefore, the two brothers think they are more powerful than others. Later in the film, the two brothers argue with their father because they think their father is not a such important person when they see their father shows respect to Iwasaki. However, the Taro has to listen to them and the two brothers just do not understand why their father has to show such respect to Iwasaki. The "power" two brothers has among all the children gives them confidence to challenge their father's authority.