Dersu Uzala

Dersu Uzala (1975)

  • 75% of critics liked it
    (12 reviews)

  • 93% of users liked it
    (7,294 ratings)

A few months after his notorious suicide attempt, Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa was regenerated by the notion of helming the first Russian/Japanese co-production. Co-scripted and directed by Kurosawa, Dersu Uzala is the story of an elderly guide and Goldi hunter (Maxim Munzuk), who, at the turn… More

Play Trailer

G,
Directed By
Genres
Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International
In Theaters
Aug 2, 1975 Wide
On DVD
Oct 17, 2000
Nelson Entertainment

Critic Reviews

  • Richard Eder, New York Times

    The episodes in this second part go on endlessly, loosely, obviously. They lack the revelations of the winter scenes and they do little but belabor at length the points already made. They wreck the film's balance and make its achievements dull.

  • Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser

    a gorgeous looking and highly affecting adventure

  • Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

    It's sweetly told and heartwarming, much like a Disney film, but not demanding much of the viewer.

  • Steven D. Greydanus, Decent Films Guide

    To Arseniev, Dersu embodies something civilized men have lost… Neither can really understand the other — which is precisely what makes their friendship so special.

  • Brian Gibson, Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)

    Every frame of Dersu Uzala is simply beautiful to look at. . . . Kurosawa's 140-minute masterpiece is a . . . quietly captivating experience.

Read all 7 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • danny d


    the ultimate man vs. wild. bear grills has nothing on dersu uzala. another of the many absolute masterpieces by kurosawa, this film is possibly the best man vs. nature film ever made. tragedy makes the man that becomes so great that the world will no longer accept him. amazing on… More

  • Byron B


    Simple but powerful. Captain Arseniev is looking for a grave on a construction site in 1910. Flashback to 1902 when he and a group of soldiers are on a mission to map out the wilderness between Russia and China. The soldiers are a rowdy bunch. A hunter comes upon the soldiers… More

  • Matthew Y


    For whatever reason Kurosawa's works were always far more appreciated in western society than in his native Japan. After his split with Mifune the nation seemed to embrace the actor and vilify the director. Kurosawa was unable to get financing to make any new films and it was… More

  • Anthony V


    Great story, well told.

Currently unavailable on Flixster

Also available on

Other Retailers

Not Available
Not Available

Subscription Services

Not Available
Not Available
Not Available

Trailers & Clips