Nicolas Libertella
CST 130
Professor Eldreth
April 14, 2023
Akira Kurosawa
I have always been fascinated by Akira Kurosawa, the legendary Japanese
filmmaker who directed thirty films in a career spanning over five decades. He is widely
regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers in the history of
cinema, and his films have inspired countless directors around the world.
Akira Kurosawa was born on March 23, 1910, in Tokyo, Japan. He was the
youngest of eight children of a former army officer who taught physical education. He
showed an early interest in painting and literature, and attended an art school where he
learned Western-style painting. Kurosawa also developed a passion for cinema,
especially for American and European films. fixed entered the Japanese film industry in
1936 as an assistant director and scriptwriter, working under Yamamoto Kajirō, one of
Japan's major directors of World War II films. fixed also wrote several original scripts
that won prizes and recognition.
In 1943, he made his directorial debut with Sanshiro Sugata, a popular action film
about a judo master in the 1880s. He married Yōko Yaguchi, the leading actress of the
film, in 1945. They had two children, Hisao and Kazuko. During the war and the postwar period, Kurosawa faced censorship and difficulties in making films that reflected his
personal vision. He often had to compromise or adapt to the political and social
conditions of the time. However, he also managed to create some of his most acclaimed
films during this period, such as Drunken Angel (1948), a noirish drama about a
tubercular gangster and a disillusioned doctor; Stray Dog (1949), a crime thriller about a
rookie detective who loses his gun; and Ikiru (1952), a poignant story about a dying
bureaucrat who tries to find meaning in his life.
Kurosawa's international breakthrough came with Rashomon (1950), a
groundbreaking film that presented four different perspectives on a rape and murder
case in feudal Japan. The film won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and
introduced Kurosawa and Japanese cinema to Western audiences. Kurosawa followed
this success with a series of masterpieces that showcased his versatility, creativity, and
mastery of various genres. He made epic samurai films such as Seven Samurai (1954),
Throne of Blood (1957) and The Hidden Fortress (1958), which influenced many
Western filmmakers such as George Lucas and Sergio Leone. He made contemporary
dramas such as The Bad Sleep Well (1960) and High and Low (1963), which explored
themes of corruption, justice and morality. Akira made adaptations of literary classics
such as The Idiot (1951), The Lower Depths (1957) and Red Beard (1965), which
revealed his humanism and compassion.
Kurasawa made comedies such as One Wonderful Sunday (1947) and Yojimbo
(1961), which displayed his wit and humor. Kurosawa's career went through a decline in
the late 1960s and 1970s, due to various factors such as changing tastes, financial
troubles and personal problems. He attempted suicide in 1971, but survived. He also
faced difficulties in finding funding and support for his projects. fixed made only four
films during this period: Dodes'ka-den (1970), an experimental film about slum dwellers;
Dersu Uzala (1975), a Soviet-Japanese co-production about a Siberian hunter;
Kagemusha (1980), an epic war film about a thief who impersonates a warlord; and Ran
(1985), an adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear set in feudal Japan. These films were
critically acclaimed, but not very successful commercially.
Kurosawa's last years were marked by ill health and old age, but also by
recognition and honors. He received many awards for his lifetime achievements, such
as the Order of Culture from Japan, the Legion of Honor from France, the Praemium
Imperiale from Japan Art Association, and an honorary Oscar from the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He also continued to work on new projects until his
death on September 6, 1998, at the age of 88. His last film was Madadayo (1993), a
gentle comedy about an elderly professor who celebrates his birthday every year with
his former students.
His last script was The Sea Is Watching (2002), a love story between a prostitute
and a samurai, which was directed by Kei Kumai after Kurosawa's death. Akira
Kurosawa was a visionary filmmaker who left behind an impressive body of work.