When 16th-century farmers whose village is repeatedly attacked by merciless bandits ask an elderly masterless samurai (Takashi Shimura) for help, offering nothing but food in return, he hesitantly agrees, and assembles a band of warriors to defend and train the villagers. Boasting terrific performances, particularly from Shimura and Toshirô Mifune as a peasant masquerading as a samurai, the film has superb camerawork and expertly mounted battle sequences.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- NEW 4K RESTORATION BY TOHO
- Newly recorded audio commentary by film critic Adrian Martin
- Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Seven Samurai (2002, 50 mins)
- The Art of Akira Kurosawa (2013, 49 mins): Asian-cinema expert Tony Rayns discusses Kurosawa's career and influence
- Original trailer
- BFI rerelease trailer
- Double-sided poster featuring artwork by Matt Needle and the BFI's poster designed for the film's rerelease
- A set of four postcards featuring iconic scenes from the film
- Perfect-bound book featuring new and archival writing on the film
- Updated and improved English subtitles
- Other extras TBC