Drunken Angel

I had a chance to watch the "Drunken Angel" at signs and wonders. For me it was the first time watching a Japanese film that did not have weird noises and karate chops. In fact, I had never seen a film by Akira Kurosawa before. I thought that the story was simple and inspiring and had a good message for an audience of any era. But for me what stood out the most was the way Kurosawa's main character, Dr. Sanada, described a typical film noir protagonist. 
Films made in the noir style don't often have a protagonist, and if they do, it is hard to figure out who that person is because they often struggle with certain flaws in their character. Their actions are morally questionable and they often make mistakes. In "Drunken Angel," Dr. Sanada is the imperfect protagonist.

Sanada's job is to help people stay healthy and, in the case of the film, save Matsunaga, who is suffering from tuberculosis, from dying. But Sanada has a couple of problems in his life that he is struggling with. First of all, he is an alcoholic and a very heavy one. Secondly, due to his constant drinking, he tends to stay in a hangover all the time and because of that he never thinks before speaking and often blurts something out that is offensive to the other person.

This is the reason why Matsunaga would always end up beating Sanada. However, the irony of his drunkenness is that he would often say things that are true, which would hurt. But the film also describes his positive side by his eagerness to save his patients and help them recover from their illness. This is shown when a young girl, who is also suffering tuberculosis, is cured at the end of the film. 

The title of the film totally describes Dr. Sanada's character. It describes his moral flaw of drinking, which is his weakness and flaw. But it also describes his positive side of saving people, which being a doctor is his responsibility.