It is a performances centric movie

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Ame Agaru or After The Rain is really wonderful movie, you can consider this a Samurai movie, but it is more than that, it is movie with heart and soul, i think Akira Kurosawa would be very proud with Koizumi directing of the film. Shooting locations and photography are so beautiful, it gives you that meditative feeling, my favorite parts of the movie were when main character Ihei Misawa goes through forest for walk, Japanese forests are so beautiful and mystical, also love the scene in the inn with local villagers and when they are singing and have fun. There is not so much fight scenes but this few are just amazingly done. Acting in the movie is also superb my favorites are main character played Akira Terao and local lord played by Shiro Mifune. Music is also nicely done. I am recommending this movie to all fans of Japanese cinema, works of Akira Kurosawa and lovers of old Japan.My grade: 9/10.

After the Rain (Ame agaru) was written by Akira Kurosawa, based on a short story by Shugoro Yamamoto. Kurosawa died after completing pre- production, so his producer son turned to Takashi Koizumi, who worked as Kurosawa's assistant director for years, to direct this film. It was co- produced by a French company, like some of Kurosawa's own works. The movie is dedicated to him in fact.After the Rain follows Ihei Misawa, arguably one of the most noble and generous samurai heroes ever committed to film. He's joined by his loving wife Tayo as they stay at an inn waiting for rain to stop. As you may know, rainy weather was one of Kurosawa's favorite thematic elements, and it played a different role in each of his films. In this movie, Ihei and Tayo, together with some other travelers, bring a great deal of joy to the poor people stranded at the inn. Rain in this movie may therefore symbolize a life obstacle which can be conquered by good will.Later, Ihei is asked by a lord, who witnessed his skill, to become a fencing instructor for his clan. The lord's men are jealous of Ihei, and tensions between him and them keep escalating. Finally, the lord's upper retainers tell Ihei that he won't be accepted, making him and Tayo travel away. However, as they walk the area, the lord changes his mind and rushes to find Ihei to make amends, realizing that he just lost a man of great skill. However, the ending doesn't state whether or not he finds him, and I couldn't have it any other way. The film ends with Ihei and Tayo admiring the view and being happy for what they are; whether the lord finds Ihei or not is completely irrelevant and out of the picture. Ihei may have lost the position in the clan, but he still has his wife and his virtues. Obviously, this is a humanist film; the type of movies Kurosawa liked to make the most.The performances are excellent, and there are some familiar faces, like Tatsuya Nakadai, Mieko Harade (from Ran and Dreams) and Toshiro Mifune's son, Shiro. It's also the first Japanese film I've seen so far where the flashbacks are in black and white; usually they're indiscernible from the main timeline. The cinematography is beautiful and offers great photography of both nature and indoor environments, which are often color-coded in yellowish and greenish shades of brown.After the Rain is a slow-paced, wonderful humanist movie that in my opinion surpasses some of Kurosawa's main works in its simplicity and mood. It leaves you with a happy feeling afterwards and overall the calming tone of it is enough for me to love it. On a second viewing, this may become one of my favorite samurai movies.

Director Takashi Koizumi made a beautiful movie in the best Kurosawa tradition, about the relationship between a samurai and his surroundings. These surroundings are both in the personal sphere and in the natural sphere. The story quietly unfolds, about this particular samurai and his wife, temporarily staying in a tavern because of the ever falling rain. He teaches the folks in the tavern how to enjoy life. Then he gets an offer from a Lord to become a teacher at the court in swordfighting. But other swordteachers conspire against him and he doesn't get the job. The result is that his wife understands him better and after the rain has stopped, they travel on as a very happy couple through and in harmony with the beautiful countryside. This movie teaches us about simplicity and about being pleased with the things around oneself.

I left the movie feeling great and light... the characters are very charismatic and the main character great. Anyone who likes Samurais and Japan of course will like this movie even more. Many of Kurosawa´s films are boring to most people... this one isn´t ! Not pretentious at all. This movie is a must see. 10 !