Kurosawa series: The Hidden Fortress (1958)

Belcourt is showcasing a Kurosawa series, including 14 of his very best, throughout the month of August. I have not seen most (i.e. 13 🤪) of them. It feels like film-ic destiny that I get to experience them for the first time on the big screen. In 4K! (well, most of them).

If you plan to watch more than 5 movies, I would recommend buying a 5-ticket pass ($45, $35 for Belcourt members) or a full series pass (14 total tickets for $98, $70 for Belcourt members). $7 for a Kurosawa flick on the big screen (most of which are 4k restorations!) - that's the best movie deal of the year! (and no, I do not work for the Belcourt Theatre) If you buy a pass, please keep in mind that you still need to reserve tickets for your showtime. Let me know if you have any questions.

Dir. Akira Kurosawa | Japan (in Japanese with English subtitles) | 1958 | 139 min. | NR | New 4K DCP Restoration

A grand-scale adventure as only Akira Kurosawa could make one, THE HIDDEN FORTRESS stars the inimitable Toshiro Mifune as a general charged with guarding his defeated clan’s princess (a fierce Misa Uehara) as the two smuggle royal treasure across hostile territory. Accompanying them are a pair of bumbling, conniving peasants who may or may not be their friends. This rip-roaring ride is among the director’s most beloved films and was a primary influence on George Lucas’s STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE (Mon, Aug 18). THE HIDDEN FORTRESS delivers Kurosawa’s trademark deft blend of wry humor, breathtaking action and compassionate humanity.

If folks are up for it, we can chat about the movie afterwards over a bite nearby.
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Purchase your tickets at Belcourt or online for the showtime below, and see you there!
Friday, August 15, 2025, 6:50 PM

Buy your tickets here