“This is the nature of war: By protecting others, you save yourselves. If you only think of yourself, you’ll only destroy yourself.”

The Bosque Film Society cordially invites all members as well as those interested in becoming members to attend its monthly members-only FILM APPRECIATION NIGHT AT THE MOVIES featuring the classic 1954 Japanese action-adventure film “SEVEN SAMURAI” directed by Akiro Kurosawa at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24 at The Cliftex Theatre in Clifton with an introductory presentation by Bosque Film Society founder and board president E. Brett Voss.

One of the most thrilling movie epics of all time, SEVEN SAMURAI (Shichinin no samurai) tells the story of a 16th-century village whose desperate inhabitants hire the eponymous warriors to protect them from invading bandits.

This three-hour ride from legendary director Akira Kurosawa—featuring legendary actors Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura—seamlessly weaves philosophy and entertainment, delicate human emotions and relentless action, into a rich, evocative, and unforgettable tale of courage and hope.

Taking place in 1586 during the Sengoku period of Japanese history, veteran samurai, who has fallen on hard times, answers a village’s request for protection from bandits. He gathers six other samurai to help him, and they teach the townspeople how to defend themselves, and they supply the samurai with three small meals a day. The film culminates in a giant battle when 40 bandits attack the village.

SEVEN SAMURAI remains regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films in cinema history. Since its release, it has consistently ranked highly in critics’ lists of greatest films, such as the BFI’s Sight & Sound and Rotten Tomatoes polls, also voted the greatest foreign-language film of all time in BBC’s 2018 international critics’ poll.

Regarded as one of the most “remade, reworked, and referenced” films in cinema, its influence can be most strongly felt in the 1960 Western film The Magnificent Seven, specifically adapted from Seven Samurai by director John Sturges. While adapting it to the Old West with the samurai replaced by gunslingers, many of The Magnificent Seven‘s scenes mirror those of Seven Samurai.

Specifically serving its membership, the 2024 Film Appreciation Night At The Movies Series will include upcoming presentations of the 2nd Annual Halloween Party featuring Young Frankenstein (1974) Oct. 29 introduced by Miriam Wallace, Legends of the Fall (1994) Nov. 26 introduced by William Godby, and the 5th Annual Christmas Party featuring Die Hard (1994) Dec. 17 introduced by J Matt Wallace.

Since this will be a private showing, BYOB will be allowed, and the theatre concession stand will be open for purchases. Although the event will be closed to the public, those wishing to become Bosque Film Society members Tuesday night will be admitted.

For more information and details about becoming a Bosque Film Society member, visit our website at: https://bosquefilm.com/membership/.