There are so many elements of this film that radiate with the watcher to make it a truly immersive experience that it boggles the mind to think of how Kurosawa and his team could manipulate the images to capture it all. The sweltering heat for example is so incredibly palpable it has a character all its own. The constant fanning and sweat soaked clothes are visceral reminders of the heat’s oppression and made to add burden on top of the mounting frustration of the detective’s search.
Another — and the most compelling — element of Stray Dog’s story is the way that the stolen gun is used as a chapter marker or countdown device. Initially the gun has seven bullets, but as the thief commits crimes throughout the film, the number of remaining bullets drop, one by one, and the characters consider not only time as a whole, but also the time they have left by the number of bullets remaining in the gun. Framing the film this way is a fantastic device that completely builds the suspense of the hunt for the thief and adds a great deal to the climax of the film as well, taking you along for the ride the entire time.
I cannot say enough about Kurosawa’s technique and vision and how it is brought to life in Stray Dog, or maybe I have said too much already, but regardless of everything that has been stated or understated or overstated, this is a great film. It is but one film in a long line of glorious cinema and you will be crushed by regret and cowardice if you do not seek it out and absolutely devour it.
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