About this episode

The episode discusses the adaptations of 'The Lower Depths' by Renoir and Kurosawa, exploring themes of hope and despair in the context of poverty.

It's a podcast double doozer! Renoir and Kurosawa both adapt the same play, over 2 decades apart. Mifune and Gabin play the same roll. One is set in the source's original Russia and the other in Edo-period Japan. Both are about hope and despair at the limit of human poverty. Is there more to this comparison than… the comparison? *Come support the podcast and get yourself or someone you love a random gift at our merch store . T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, and more! If you'd like to watch ahead for next week's film, we will be discussing and reviewing Jacques Tati's Playtime (1967).

More episodes of Random Acts of Cinema

• LD154 - Blackmail (1929) · July 16, 2026 · 1h 13m
• 779 - Blind Chance (1987) · July 13, 2026 · 1h 20m
• 1 - The Grand Illusion (1937) · July 4, 2026 · 1h 23m
• 99 - Gimme Shelter (1970) · June 29, 2026 · 1h 37m
• 52 - Yojimbo (1961) · June 15, 2026 · 1h 21m

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Random Acts of Cinema podcast page.