Ikiru

Akira Kurosawa, famed for Samurai movies, produced this tale of a man who doesn't escape the minutia of the bureaucratic machine until he is diagnosed with inoperable stomach cancer. At this point, with help from an artist and young co-worker, he learns how to escape, but also learns that he can do something worthwhile.

Half the film is set after his demise, going back and looking at his last months in retrospect.

A wonderful film about town councils and jobsworthyness, and not wanting to break the status quo. Though a little long in places this film is mostly well paced, giving time to absorb what is happening.