Re: Seven Samurai

When people behave incompetently in the film, there's often a message
to it.  If people do the will of a committee they are less likely to
behave incompetently.

 

I have taken an extract from Joan Mellen's bfi Film Classic, Seven
Samurai, which gives examples of individualism being seen to be
destructive:

 

"In the town early in the film, Kambei states that selflessness is
both pragmatic and the highest good. As the time for the battle with
the bandits approaches, Gorobei, who is Kambei's alter-ego, offers a
traditional Japanese perspective, contending that the individual must
give way to the group. In the conflict between giri (duty) and ninjo
(personal inclination), giri must prevail. 'We'll harvest in groups,
not as individuals,' Gorobei explains. 'From tomorrow, you will live
in groups. You move as a group, not as individuals.' The selflessness
which permitted these samurai to agree to help a peasant village must
now be inculcated in the farmers themselves.

 

"Suddenly, Mosuke and a group of others rebel. Theirs are the three
houses which will be flooded after the harvest and they are horrified.
'Let's not risk ourselves to protect others!' Mosuke yells. They break
away from the group and rush off. They are only six, however, and
Kambei, sword drawn to reveal the urgency of this moment, drives them
back to be reincorporated into their units."