Ikiru background

Ikiru

A bureaucrat tries to find meaning in his life after he discovers he has terminal cancer.

Kanji Watanabe is a civil servant. He has worked in the same department for 30 years. His life is boring and monotonous, though he once used to have passion and drive. Then one day he discovers that he has stomach cancer and less than a year to live. After the initial depression he sets about living for the first time in over 20 years. Then he realises that his limited time left is not just for living life to the fullest, but to leave something meaningful behind.

Watch Ikiru Exclusively on BFI Player

Streaming in:

United Kingdom flag

  • Canada flagCanada
  • Denmark flagDenmark
  • Finland flagFinland
  • Spain flagSpain
  • United Kingdom flagUnited Kingdom
  • United States flagUnited States
BFI Player

Info about Ikiru

Studio(s): TOHO

Originally Released: United Kingdom, Apr 30, 1958

Production Country: Japan

Box Office Gross: $79,298.00

Genres:Drama