“I like unformed characters. This may be because, no matter how old I get, I am still unformed myself.”
–Akira Kurosawa
Akira Kurosawa is an infamous Japanese filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema. Kurosawa has directed over thirty films that spanned over a five decade career. Strongly influenced by Western cinema, Kurosawa’s films displayed a bold, and dynamic style.
Born March 23, 1910, Akira Kurosawa entered the film industry in 1936. He made his debut as a director during World War II with the film Sanshiro Sugata (1943). After the war, Kurosawa made the critically acclaimed film, Drunken Angel (1948).
Kurosawa directed one film a year throughout the 1950’s and early 1960’s, including the hitmakers Seven Samurai (1954), and Yojimbo (1961). In 1990, Kurosawa recieved an Academy Award for Lifetime Achievement. After his passing in 1996, Kurosawa was named “Asian of the Century” by AsianWeek Magazine for being one of five people who contributed to the improvement of Asia in the 20th Century.
Whether you are new to the world of Kurosawa films or a huge fan of his work, here are five of movies, that will show you why he is truly a master of his craft.
Which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
1. Dreams
What’s It About: Eight different episodic features under the banner of the great Akira Kurosawa. All represent different dreams.
Starring: Mieko Harada, Akira Terao, Mitsuko Baisho
Where To Watch: You Tube, Apple TV, Google Play Movies & TV
2. Rhapsody In August
What’s It About: A tale about a three-generational Japanese family post war and their response to the bombing of Japan. Kane, the elderly matriarch of the family tells her grandchildren how she lost her husband during the war. The grandchildren are visiting her in Kyushu, near Nagasaki, and are trying to convince her to visit Hawaii, where one of her brothers live. Kane takes her grandchildren to Nagasaki and shows them the spot where their grandfather died from the atomic bombing.
Starring: Sachiko Murase, Mitsunori Isaki, Tomoko Ohtakara
Where To Watch: Available on DVD on Amazon Prime
Watch The Trailer Here (Japanese)
3. Kagemusha
What’s It About: Takeda Shingen is the Daimyo of the Takeda clan. His brother, Nobukado, spared a thief from a crucifixtion and the clan agrees that he bares an uncanny resemblance of Takeda. The brothers agree to use him as a double. The thief is a kagemusha, or a political decoy. While on the battlefield, the real Takeda gets shot and mortally wounded. While on his deathbed, he orders his generals to keep his death a secret for three years. Nobukado, proposes to use the kagemusha as a full-time Takeda impersonator.
Starring: Tatsuya Nakadai, Kota Yui, Tsutomu Yamazaki
Where To Watch: Google Play Movies & TV, Apple TV, Vudu
Watch The Trailer Here:
4. Stray Dog
What’s It About: During a heatwave in the middle of summer on Tokyo, Detective Murakami has his Colt pistol stolen while riding a crowded trolley. He chases the pickpocket but loses him in the crowd. Defeated, Murakami reports his missing weapon to his superior. His boss tells him to investigate and find his gun. This leads Murakami on a trail into the illicit arms market.
Starring: Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Ishiro Honda
Where To Watch: Tubi, Amazon Prime Video, Plex
Watch The Trailer Here:
5. Drunken Angel
What’s It About: Sanada is a doctor with a drinking problem. While in postwar Japan, Sanada is treating a yakuza named Matsunaga after he got into a gunfight with a rival. While treating Matsunaga, Sanada starts to form an uneasy friendship with him. Sanada tells Matsunaga he needs to quit drinking and smoking to feel better and start taking care of himself. After recovering, Matsunaga start to succumbs to peer pressure and starts up his old lifestyle of smoking and drinking again at the behest of his older brother.
Starring: Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Chieko Nakakaita
Where To Watch: Tubi, Amazon Prime Video, Plex
Watch The Trailer Here:
