The Criterion Collection will release Dreams in 4K on August 8th.

Few filmmakers hold a reputation as unwavering and astounding as Akira Kurosawa. If a Mount Rushmore of cinema were to be constructed today, his face would be a likely inclusion. There’s a reason so many of his films are in the Criterion Collection, and while I haven’t seen them all, I’ve enjoyed working my way through his filmography, one masterpiece at a time.

Dreams Plot

Inspired by actual recurring dreams that Kurosawa experienced, Dreams delivers eight separate and unique short vignettes. Sunshine Through The Rain, The Peach Orchard, The Blizzard, The Tunnel, Crows, Mount Fuji in Red, The Weeping Demon and Village of  the Watermills, each running around fifteen minutes, make up the film.

Also Read: Criterion Collection: The Watermelon Woman Review

The Critique

Anthologies are always a gamble. Crafting one great story is difficult enough, crafting eight is downright daunting. What generally ends up coming together is a mishmash of quality ranging from both ends of the spectrum. Even Kurosawa is not immune to this, and the end result of Dreams is a splash of genius, a handful of empty sentiment, and a good dose of mediocrity elevated by a whimsical approach.

It’s rarely a pleasant experience to hear somebody recount their dreams; however, when that somebody is as artistically inclined as Kurosawa, witnessing something as abstract as a dream be brought to life can be a thing of beauty. That is where Dreams excels. It is a beautiful experience from start to finish, both visually and spiritually. While much of what Kurosawa sets out to say comes across bluntly and overbearing, the heart and sentiment at its core are undoubtedly his own and reminiscent of his earlier work.

I was first introduced to Kurosawa through the Criterion Collection release of Seven Samurai. It was the second film I ever owned from the collection, following Peckinpah’s controversial masterpiece, Straw Dogs. There were thirty-four years between the two films and it was interesting to see the evolution of a master’s craft and style as he ages. Dreams is more about the feelings it evokes and the visual splendor of its delivery.

The standout entries for me were the opening vignette, Sunshine Through the Rain, The Tunnel and Crows. Although each of the eight have their merits, it was these three that proved to be the most captivating and interesting to me with their depictions and explorations of childhood, death and art. Although Martin Scorsese’s performance as Vincent van Gogh in Crows leaves much to be desired, I was delighted by his unexpected inclusion.

The Special Features

The selling point of the newly upgraded 4K release is, of course, the inclusion of a 4K Ultra HD disc with enhanced picture. As far as special features go, there doesn’t seem to be anything newly added that can’t be found on the previous blu-ray edition. The special features aren’t as plentiful as some of Criterion’s other releases; however, there is a two-and-a-half hour long documentary on the making of Dreams, shot on set and filled with insight and behind-the-scenes-detail. That certainly seems to be the highlight of the special features section.

Would I Recommend This Purchase: It’s Kurosawa, of course!

Is It Worth a Blind Buy: No. This film is unique and its arthouse presentation won’t be for everybody. I would recommend watching it before adding it to your collection.

7/10

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