Blu-ray release: ‘Red Beard’
By Phil Mills | Mar 3, 2026
The BFI will release the 1965 Japanese period drama ‘Red Beard’ (赤ひげ) on Blu-ray in the UK on May 11, 2026.
Co-written and directed by Akira Kurosawa, the film portrays a young doctor whose tenure at an Edo-era clinic reshapes his understanding of medicine and responsibility. The cast includes Toshiro Mifune, Yuzo Kayama, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Reiko Dan, and Miyuki Kuwano.
Synopsis: Set in 19th-century Japan, the story follows an ambitious young physician who arrives at a rural charity clinic expecting prestige, only to find himself apprenticed to the formidable yet compassionate Dr Kyojio Niide, known as “Red Beard.” Through a series of deeply felt encounters with the clinic’s impoverished patients, the young doctor is forced to confront his own pride and reconsider his understanding of duty. Expansive yet intimate in scope, the narrative unfolds as a meditation on suffering, moral responsibility and the quiet heroism of those who devote their lives to the care of others.
Features:
- Restored in 2K by Toho Co., Ltd and presented in High Definition
- Newly recorded audio commentary by Kenta McGrath
- Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – Red Beard (2002)
- Alex Cox on Red Beard (2003, 14 mins)
- Original trailer
- Booklet featuring new writing on the film [First Pressing Only]
‘Red Beard’ is available for pre-order now via Amazon.co.uk.
