Toshirô Mifune is unforgettable as Kingo Gondo, a wealthy industrialist whose family becomes the target of a cold-blooded kidnapper. High and Low is a highly influential domestic drama crossed with a gripping crime thriller, based on the pulp novel by Ed McBain and shot in the widescreen Tohoscope format.
Kingo Gondo (Toshirô Mifune), a successful businessman, has scraped together the money to acquire a controlling stake in the shoe company where he has worked most of his life. His plans are derailed when his son’s playmate is kidnapped—a mistake, as the kidnapper had meant to abduct Gondo’s own son. Paying the ransom would mean financial ruin.
This dark, intense film bolstered Kurosawa’s international reputation and left a lasting mark on cinema. Its influence continues to this day: this summer sees the release of Spike Lee’s reinterpretation Highest 2 Lowest, with Denzel Washington in the role originally played by Kurosawa regular Toshirô Mifune. 4K restoration by Toho.