Expat Cinema Rotterdam

► ABOUT THE MOVIE
The film that redefined the antihero and reshaped action cinema forever...

Sharp-witted, stylish, and darkly comic, Akira Kurosawa’s Yojimbo is a masterclass in cinematic cool. Toshiro Mifune stars as a mysterious, wandering ronin who arrives in a lawless town torn between two rival gangs. With cunning and swordplay, he manipulates both sides against each other, playing them like pieces on a chessboard—until the stakes turn deadly.

With Yojimbo, Kurosawa blends samurai tradition with Western film noir and spaghetti western aesthetics, paving the way for countless reinterpretations—from Sergio Leone’s A Fistful of Dollars to Tarantino’s Kill Bill. It’s a sharp satire of violence, greed, and power, told with Kurosawa’s signature precision and flair.

► ABOUT THE MEETUP
Use the event chat on here to stay in touch. Depending on the group and peoples timing we can meet before and/or after film in the foyer or on the terrace (if the weather plays nicely)

Reminder: film with a short introduction starts at 19.00 sharp!

► ABOUT THE MOVIE
Part gripping crime thriller, part searing social commentary, High and Low showcases Akira Kurosawa at the height of his cinematic powers. Inspired by an American detective novel, the film follows a wealthy executive whose moral resolve is tested when kidnappers mistakenly abduct his chauffeur’s son instead of his own. What begins as a tense hostage drama soon unfolds into a complex investigation that exposes the stark class divides of postwar Japan.

With razor-sharp direction, breathtaking cinematography, and a powerhouse performance by Toshiro Mifune, High and Low is a taut, thought-provoking film that bridges the genres of noir and police procedural. Kurosawa masterfully contrasts the world of privilege—shot in tight, high-contrast interiors—with the gritty streets below, crafting a suspenseful and resonant portrait of justice and conscience.

Join us for this expat screening of one of Kurosawa’s most underrated yet profoundly impactful works.

► ABOUT THE MEETUP
Use the event chat on here to stay in touch. Depending on the group and peoples timing we can meet before and/or after film in the foyer or on the terrace (if the weather plays nicely)

Reminder: film with a short introduction starts at 19.00 sharp!