Textbook on Film: The Political As Personal in the Films of Kurosawa
Kurosawa’s films often act as deliberate examinations of historical periods, exploring difficult realities that existed and the ordeals of the individuals.
Director Spotlight Akira Kurosawa
There are few ways to overstate the importance of Akira Kurosawa to world cinema today. Kurosawa was not just a great director — there are lots of those — but one who helped to shape how movies are made around the world. Unapologetically blending Western filmmaking techniques with Japanese tradition, Kurosawa not only introduced the world to Japanese cinema but made staggering contributions to the language of cinema while doing so. Ever an innovator, Kurosawa’s influence is still being felt today, and PopMatters is proud to present this Director’s Spotlight on one of the most complicated, enduring, and influential voices in world cinema. Over the next two weeks, we’ll bring you short essays on each film in Kurosawa’s prolific body of work, as well as in-depth essays on the style and substance of his legacy as a whole. We hope you enjoy it. — Ian Chant
Akira Kurosawa Films 101: 1946 – 1948
Day Two of Akira Kurosawa 101 examines three of his films that address the nature of life in Japan immediately at the end of WWII and the American Occupation.
A Giant Shadow: The Continuing Influence of Akira Kurosawa on World Cinema
It’s impossible to imagine a world without Akira Kurosawa’s films. He’s one of the greatest directors in movie history, having made many first-tier masterpieces.
Akira Kurosawa Films 101: 1943-1945
Over the next two weeks, we will discuss every film that Akira Kurosawa directed, from the obscure to the most celebrated, from Scandal and The Most Beautiful to Seven Samurai and Ran.