Red Beard (Blu-ray)

Experience Akira Kurosawa's intimate, episodic epic on Blu-ray. This poignant tale of humanity and responsibility follows a socially ambitious young doctor arriving at a rural clinic in 19th-century Japan to study under the commanding yet caring Dr. Kyojio Niide, known as 'Red Beard' (Toshiro Mifune). This film marks Kurosawa's final black and white feature and showcases a powerhouse performance by Mifune in his last collaboration with the director, concluding one of cinema's most remarkable actor-director partnerships.

Key Features/Benefits

• Directed by Akira Kurosawa.
• Features Toshiro Mifune in his final collaboration with Kurosawa.
• Restored in 2K by Toho Co., Ltd and presented in High Definition.
• Rated suitable for 15 years and over.
• Total run time of 3 hours and 6 minutes.

Contents & Extras

This Blu-ray edition includes significant bonus material:

• Newly recorded audio commentary by Japanese-Australian filmmaker Kenta McGrath.
• Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Red Beard (2002, 22 mins).
• Alex Cox on Red Beard (2003, 14 mins): archive piece recorded for the BFI’s original DVD release.
• Toshiro Mifune in Conversation (1986, 61 mins, audio only): interview with critic and writer David Shipman.
• Treasures from the BFI National Archive (1947-1952): a selection of public information films exploring advances in healthcare in rural districts – Mother (1947, 16 mins), Doctor's Dilemma (1948, 1 min), and District Nurse (1952, 27mins).
• Original trailer.
• FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Booklet featuring new writing on the film by Hayley Scanlon, on the music and the film’s composer by Charlie Brigden, an essay on actor Yûzô Kayama by James-Masaki Ryan, and writing on the short films by Yuriko Hamaguchi.

Specifications

• Binding/Format: Blu-ray
• Director: Akira Kurosawa
• Actors: Toshiro Mifune, Yoshio Tsuchiya, Yûzô Kayama, Tatsuyoshi Ehara
• Run Time: 3 hours and 6 minutes
• Language: English, Japanese
• Aspect Ratio: 4
• Rated: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Release Date: 11 May 2026
• Manufacturer/Brand: Bfi
• Item Model Number: BFIB1564

Discover this cinematic masterpiece, presented in high definition with extensive archival and new supplementary features, making this essential viewing for fans of Kurosawa and classic Japanese cinema.