About this episode
The episode discusses Akira Kurosawa's film THE BAD SLEEP WELL and its connections to Hamlet and themes of corporate corruption in postwar Japan.
How much Ham could a Hamlet let if a Hamlet could let Ham? Anyway, if you know Hamlet well, you may not enjoy THE BAD SLEEP WELL as much as someone who doesn’t. Toshiro Mifune (the GOAT) is an aggrieved secretary taking on a corrupt corporation, setting in motion a complicated plot to force confessions from sleazy profiteers who pressured a colleague into committing suicide amid an embezzlement scandal. Akira Kurosawa’s Shakespearean noir borrows the broad strokes of the Bard, but in updating the setting for postwar Japan, it makes kind of inverse conclusions about its main character (and the way it changes Hamlet’s classic tragic ending). Give to these causes in need during ICE’s occupation of Minnesota: Support Minnesotans defending their communities from ICE: https://www.standwithminnesota.com/ @sanctuarysupplydepot: Mutual aid group in Mpls getting basic necessities to our houseless neighbors https://linktr.ee/sanctuarysupplydepot @mplsmutualaid: Clearinghouse of mutual aid for our neighbors: https://linktr.ee/mplsmutualaid ISAIAH, an interfaith group fighting for racial and economic justice in MN: https://secure.everyaction.com/G8TCnxFlE0qd9zlUEYjjeg2 Show love to North…
People in this episode
Host: Trylove
Topics covered
- Shakespearean noir
- postwar Japan
- corporate corruption
- tragedy
- mental health
- mutual aid
Keywords
- Akira Kurosawa
- Toshiro Mifune
- THE BAD SLEEP WELL
- Hamlet
- corporate corruption
- postwar Japan
- tragedy
- mutual aid
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: ISAIAH, sanctuarysupplydepot, mplsmutualaid
Books & works: THE BAD SLEEP WELL, Hamlet
Places: Minnesota, North Minneapolis
More episodes of Trylove
- Episode 386: SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004) with Emma Youndtsmith · June 9, 2026 · 2h 6m
- Episode 385: DRAGNET GIRL (1933) · June 2, 2026 · 1h 10m
- Episode 384: THE BALLAD OF NARAYAMA (1958) · May 26, 2026 · 1h 50m
- Episode 383: SANSHO THE BAILIFF (1954) · May 19, 2026 · 1h 50m
- Episode 382: A HEN IN THE WIND (1948) · May 12, 2026 · 1h 36m
- Episode 381: FAMILY PLOT (1976) · May 5, 2026 · 1h 25m
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