A Humanist Film & Discussion: Ikiru (To Live) - 1952

Join us for a screening of Ikiru (1952), the acclaimed Japanese film directed by Akira Kurosawa, widely regarded as one of the most profound explorations of meaning, responsibility, and the human condition ever put to film-a quintessential Humanist exploration.

Set in post-war Japan, Ikiru follows a quiet civil servant confronted with his own mortality and forced to ask a deeply humanist question: How should one live, knowing time is finite? The film offers no religious answers or supernatural consolation. Instead, it presents meaning as something created through compassion, ethical action, and engagement with others.

Kurosawa, one of the most influential directors in cinema history, made Ikiru during a period of global reckoning after World War II, when traditional sources of authority and belief were being reexamined. The film occupies a unique place in world cinema for its restrained storytelling, moral seriousness, and enduring relevance. It has influenced generations of filmmakers and thinkers and is often cited as a cornerstone of secular, humanist-centered storytelling.

Movie starts at 1:30. Bring your movie blankie and a reclining chair if you'd like.

Following the screening, we will hold a facilitated discussion exploring:

• Humanist approaches to meaning and mortality
• The role of ethical action in a finite life
• Ikiru’s place in cinema history and postwar thought
• How humanist values appear in art without religious framing

No prior knowledge of humanism or film studies is required. All are welcome to watch, reflect, and participate.

We'll have a large popcorn and water for each person. Bring your own soft drink and candy. Sonic Drive thru is very close. Please bring at least $5 cash to cover the snacks, library and movie fees. Cash donations over $5 will be used in the local community to do good because that's how we are.