Please note this is a region 2 DVD & will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play Considered to be one of cinemas greatest talents Akira Kurosawa s final film is released in the UK for the very first time Warm touching & rousing MADADAYO is the perfect bookend to a lifetime of cinematic achievements MADADAYO follows the last two decades in the life of Hyakken Uchida (Tetsuo Matsumura) a writer & teacher who retires in the war years of the early 1940 s Beginning in 1943 (the year Kurosawa made his first feature) he is beloved by his students & colleagues who join him each year for a birthday celebration toasting Mahda-kai? (Are you ready?) to which his answer is always Madadayo! which means Not yet! acknowledging that death may be near but life goes on it is both a triumphant denial of death & a gentle plea for more time In an interview at the time of the film&s release Kurosawa said his movie is about &something very precious which has been all but forgotten The enviable world of warm hearts& He added &hope that all the people who have seen this picture will leave the theatre feeling refreshed with broad smiles on their faces&