Japan: Film: Kurosawa Akira

Quite possibly, the greatest director ever. This page is primarily a small repository of information, movie reviews, and synopses of books related to his work. The best way to see his films in the US is on Criterion DVD, which are digitally restored, completely uncut, and (usually) in the original aspect ratio. Avoid the cheap Hong Kong DVDs, which have really bad translations and awful mastering. Also, avoid the US release of Ran, which is the most atrocious transfer ever. This movie needs a Criterion release for sure.

Here's the list of Kurosawa films in my collection.

The Films

The films are arranged in chronological order, with a brief description and a rating (1-10). Some movies have more extensive reviews, which (WARNING) reveal substantial parts of the plot. I intend these primarily as a reminder for myself, and a basis for discussion with others. If you want to maintain the suspense, don't read the long reviews until after you've seen the film.

Stray Dog (1949): In this classic film noir, the young detective Murakami loses his pistol to a pick-pocket. Ashamed and afraid because his pistol appears to be the murder weapon in several homicides, he frantically searches for the murderer, aided in his investigation by the older and wiser colleague Sato. Rated 7/10.
Scandal (1950): When two paparazzi snap a controversial picture of famous singer Miyako and painter Ichiro, the two decide to fight for their good names in court. They retain the services of the sleaze-bag lawyer Hiruta, whose bed-ridden daughter is dying of tuberculosis. Will he succumb to the enticing offers of the yellow press and sell out his clients? Rated 5/10.
Rashomon (1950): The story of a brutal ambush, rape, and murder, told from four different viewpoints: the attacker, the woman, the dead husband, and a witness. An excursion into the nature of truth in storytelling, and how people lie to protect their image and interest. Rated 7/10.
Ikiru (1952): The existential search for meaning in life of an aging bureaucrat, who finds out he has only six months to live, and the way his colleagues, relatives, and acquaintances interpret his actions. A masterpiece; rated 10/10.
Seven Samurai (1954): The incomparable tale of seven honorable samurai who come to the defense of a farming community against bandits. Set in medieval Japan, this film is still one of the most acclaimed epics of the 20th century. Rated: 10/10.
Throne of Blood (1957): Shakespeare's "Macbeth" set in medieval Japan; although the cinematography is superb, the story is somewhat uneven because Kurosawa made a few changes that destroyed the main characters. Still worth seeing; rated 8/10.
Yojimbo (1961): A masterless samurai wanders into a village amidst the rivalry of two gangs. He manipulates them both, to their ultimate destruction. Remade several times, most recently as "Last Man Standing," the original is much better than any of the remakes. Rated 9/10.
Sanjuro (1962): In this companion piece to YOJIMBO, the ronin helps a group of young idealistic warriors root out the evil influences in their clan. Much more humorous than its predecessor, definitely a must see. Rated 9/10.
The Hidden Fortress (1962): Two greedy, stupid, and cravenly farmers are unknowingly recruited to help an embattled Princess sneak to safety and smuggle an enormous amount of gold. Toshiro Mifune stars as the Princess' star General in this light, fast-paced, and funny jidai-geki, comparable in tone to SANJURO. Recommended; rated 9/10.
High and Low (1963): When the son of his chauffeur is kidnapped by mistake, shoe magnate Gondo has to decide between paying a ransom that would ruin his family and taking over the company, leaving the child to its fate. The first half of the film is gripping, with Toshiro Mifune delivering another memorable performance. In the second half, the police hunts the kidnapper through the dark, narcotic underbelly of the city. Although not one of my favorites, this is a must-see for thriller fans; rated 7/10.
Red Beard (1965): At the end of the Tokugawa period, a young arrogant doctor is forced to intern at a provincial clinic, run by the dictatorial Red Beard. Through his painful exposure to the cruelty and wretchedness of the lives of the poor, the young doctor realizes that his own "goodness" is nothing but selfishness and pride, while the "evil" of others is either fear or rage against the brutality of impoverished existence. A deeply humanist film, touching with its faith in good. Recommended; rated 10/10.
Dersu Uzala (1974): Based on a true story, this is the touching tale of a strong friendship between a Russian leader of an imperial land survey group and an ethnic Goldi hunter. Set in the hauntingly beautiful, yet menacing, rugged wilderness of Siberia, this film is a wonderful testament to human love and man's relationship with nature. Rated 9/10.
Kagemusha (1980): The triumph of the Tokugawa clan from the losing side. When Lord Shingen dies, his double tries to lead the clan to victory. The story is also an interesting exploration into the meaning of identity, and how people self-define their persona. The film boasts some excellent battle scenes. Rated 9/10.
Ran (1985): Considered by many to be Kurosawa's masterpiece, this film is the ultimate achievement of the great director. Loosely based on Shakespeare's "King Lear," but set in medieval Japan, the story tells of a bitter rivalry between siblings and the madness it induces in their father. The film is spectacular, with epic battles, haunting landscapes, and superb editing. Definitely a must-see; rated 10/10.
Dreams (1990): An omnibus collection of eight shorts, each depicting a director's dream. Very uneven, especially after the first four, and somewhat abrasive due to the explicit, and yet shallow, ruminations on man, nature, nuclear power, and progress. Perhaps should be avoided until after watching other Kurosawa films; rated 7/10.
Rhapsody in August (1991): Four generations of Japanese remember the August 1945 nuclear bombing of Hiroshima. Although somewhat simplistic, the film describes very well how the memory affects each generation in a unique way. Rated 8/10.

Reading Materials

This is a list of books by Kurosawa himself, or by people who write about his work or Japanese cinema in general. I have also included some references that would be useful to understanding the techniques Kurosawa uses over and over in his films, such as element of Noh theater, and historical and sociological books on medieval and per-modern Japan, which will help put his jidai-geki films in context.

Kurosawa, Akira. 1993. Something Like an Autobiography. Random House.: Coming soon.
Prince, Stephen. 1999. The Warrior's Camera: The Cinema of Kurosawa Akira. Princeton University Press.: Coming soon.
Richie, Donald. 1999. The Films of Kurosawa Akira. 3rd expanded edition. University of California Press.: An oversized and lavishly illustrated volume by arguably the most knowledgeable scholar of Japanese cinema in general and Kurosawa in particular. The book has one chapter per film, which includes background, plot summary, scene highlights, critical commentary, and production notes. Perhaps the best volume of its kind.
Yoshimoto, Mitsuhiro. 2000. Kurosawa: Film Studies and Japanese Cinema. Duke University Press.: This book attempts too much and achieves too little. Although each film has a separate chapter dedicated to it, the analysis is highly uneven, very lopsided (it is as if the author has some bone to grind with US academia, and especially other people's analyses of Kurosawa's work; much of the book is "this guy is wrong" and "that guy is wrong," and it quickly becomes tiresome. There are some jewels in terms of interpretation, though, so you might want to check it out.