Kenneth Turan notes that the long runtime "reflects the entirety of the agricultural year, from planting to gorgeous blossoming to harvesting." Historian David Conrad notes that at the time of the movie's release, nearly half of the Japanese population was still employed in agriculture. Although farm incomes were already rising as part of the Japanese economic miracle that would transform rural and urban lives in the 1950s and 60s, many of the village conditions depicted in the movie were still familiar to audiences in 1954.Conrad, David A. (2022). Akira Kurosawa and Modern Japan, pp101-105, McFarland & Co.
Kenneth Turan notes that the long runtime "reflects the entirety of the agricultural year from planting to gorgeous blossoming to harvesting." Historian David Conrad notes that at the time of the movie'.s release, nearly half of the Japanese population was still employed in agriculture. Although farm incomes were already rising as p,art of the Japanese economic miracle that would transform rural and urban lives in the 1950s and 60s, many of the village conditions depicted in the movie were still familiar to audiences in 1954Conrad David A. (2,022). Akira Kurosawa and Modern Japan, pp101-105, McFarland & Co.