This film touches on a natural human feeling, which is being afraid of something, almost verging on phobia. In this case, our main character, Kiichi Nakajima (enacted by great and renowned Toshirô Mifune), lives in fear of nuclear bombs, given that Japan had just come out of World War Two. This fear completely affects him that it begins to interfere with his daily and family life. He has then made up his mind, and decides the best thing to do is flee his country and embark on a trip to Brazil, which, according to him, is the safest place to be. However, he is so selfish and focused on said idea, that he has not considered the consequences and how it may alter his family relationship. In the end, this film raises thoughtful questions that may have you thinking for a while. Those questions are: Was he doing the right thing for him and his family? Was he just crazy about it or sane enough to see the danger others could not?This film, in my opinion, though not Kurosawa's best, is definitely deserving of praise for the complex and daring subject matter it treats.My score: 8.6/10

Based on reviews I had read, I was expecting either a facile ban-the-bomb message film, or a story about greedy relatives trying to have an old man committed so they can get his money.I should have known better. Part of Kurosawa's genius in his great middle period (1950-1965) is that he refuses to insist on anything. He fairly presents a series of events and invites us to decide what, if anything, they mean.Everyone in this film has a point. No one here is really a villain. Even those who are jerks (notably the second son, Jiro) are really trying to do the right thing. And the film reminds me a little of THE CAINE MUTINY in that it very artfully moves our sympathies in one direction for most of the film before presenting us with events that make us wonder if we were wrong.Toshiro Mifune gives a fine performance as Nakajima, but to tell the truth, I wish Kurosawa had given the role to Takashi Shimura, not only because I think Shimura would have played the role even better, but because it would have given him one more tour-de-force leading role in a Kurosawa film, coming directly after IKIRU and SEVEN SAMURAI. Granted, though, that such a move probably would have caused problems with both Toho and Mifune.

"I Live in Fear" is a thought-provoking, moving film about love, greed and fear, framed as only Kurosawa could. If you're a fan it's a must see, as it explores new and old themes in a stark, interesting manner. Excellent acting through-out, and please look carefully--Mifune wears no make-up, just huge glasses and a perpetual scowl; his talent and intensity were all he needed. This film also gives us an interesting look at Japan after the bomb, and the different ways people chose to deal with the fear they all in fact felt. The film does not judge, sympathizing with the children even as it highlights their selfishness. A good movie to make you think about where we've been, and where we might be headed.

This movie should be seen by everyone. It is a very dark comedy (my personal favorite kind). You can see a summary of the story elsewhere. Suffice it to say, in black and white, in Japanese, it is still gripping, haunting, etc. You will watch and think: who is right? The old man or his children? You will smile as you begin to realize that this is a story of an entirely honest and loving man who is far saner than the rest of them, all of whom consider him insane. A beautiful film.