Ikiru, an Akira Kurosawa "gem" from 1952, follows a dying bureaucrat, searching for something of value in his life before succumbing to cancer. At times both tremendously sad and undeniably life-affirming, Ikiru is critical of the system of meaningless admin work and the people who populate it. Clint, Cal, and Alex sift through mountains of paperwork to discuss subtle camera moves in emotional mega-montages, the intricate and invisible blocking that sets Kurosawa apart, and the best Frank Capra movie that he never made.