"How is this not the hugest show? It’s the improbable combination of Barry Lyndon and The Shield. With its jaw-dropping act breaks and rug-pulling twists, this violent soap opera as social commentary on sex work boasts two acting legends (Samantha Morton and Lesley Manville) going toe-to-toe on a weekly basis."

"Jean Renoir’s almost-lost piece of essential filmmaking is a tour de force of social debate, comedy, violence, and overindulgence. And that’s just how the characters behave. The filmmaking is crisp, smart, and quickly paced. Many films have come close, but, in my opinion, Renoir’s masterpiece is the finest cinematic example of class satire."

"This double bill gives an excellent chance to compare the acting of Takashi Shimura and Toshiro Mifune. Neither is anything but perfect. It is a mystery how Kurosawa, who always refused to make a film without a social statement, manages at the same time to be one of the most entertaining of all filmmakers."

"This double bill gives an excellent chance to compare the acting of Takashi Shimura and Toshiro Mifune. Neither is anything but perfect. It is a mystery how Kurosawa, who always refused to make a film without a social statement, manages at the same time to be one of the most entertaining of all filmmakers."