Notable Films:
High & Low (Heaven & Hell)

This film, by Japanese director Akira Kurasowa, is a mystery starring a shoe industry worker, Gondo, played by Toshiro Mifune. After all Gondo’s hard work, he is finally about to take over the company he has been working for. Then, his son is kidnapped—or so he thinks. The ransom to get his son back with require all the money he has been saving to take over the shoe business, and he is relieved to find out that the kidnappers have made a mistake, and his son is safe. However, the son of Gondo’s loyal assistant has actually been kidnapped, and Gondo is faced with the choice of giving up his life savings to save his friend’s son, since the kidnappers still insist that the ransom be paid, or they will kill the child. This film is recommended for individuals who enjoy older mystery and suspense films (since it’s in black and white). The film is in Japanese and includes subtitles, and is based on Ed McBain’s novel, “King’s Ransom.”