Rashomon

1950 · Akira Kurosawa

• DirectorAkira Kurosawa
• Guide · Why watch this?…lasting form. Its Golden Lion at Venice in 1951 made Akira Kurosawa an international name and drew Western audiences and festivals to Japanese film. Mizoguchi, Ozu and t…
• Guide · Cinema at the time…the Western audience barely knew Japanese cinema. Industry Kurosawa had made Drunken Angel (1948) and Stray Dog (1949), contemporary dramas with Mifune. Rashomon was a s…
• Guide · Social context…one can be honest, spoke to that mood. Society and audience Kurosawa was in his early forties and had made films since 1943, with recent contemporary dramas such as Drunk…
• Guide · readout_before…West took notice. That film was Rashomon, directed by Akira Kurosawa. It made him an international name. It also drew Western audiences and festivals toward Japanese cine…

Seven Samurai

1954 · Akira Kurosawa

• DirectorAkira Kurosawa
• Guide · Why watch this?…ous social observation and reach audiences worldwide. Akira Kurosawa's best-known work set the pattern of recruiting a band of specialists, training outsiders and prepari…
• Guide · Cinema at the time…pensive Japanese productions made up to that time. Industry Kurosawa had gained international attention with Rashomon (1950) and made the humane drama Ikiru (1952). This…
• Guide · Social context…litarist. After the ban lifted, period dramas returned, and Kurosawa made one that dealt with social tensions as well as swordplay. Occupation-era censorship Kurosawa had…
• Guide · readout_before…round the world. Its influence is hard to overstate. Akira Kurosawa set the pattern of recruiting a band of specialists, training outsiders and preparing a defence. The…

Ikiru

1952 · Akira Kurosawa

• DirectorAkira Kurosawa

Kagemusha

1980 · Akira Kurosawa

• DirectorAkira Kurosawa

Akira Kurosawa

Directing

• BiographyAkira Kurosawa (1910–1998) was a Japanese director and painter who made thirty films over five decades. Known for dynamic visuals and period dramas as well as contemporar…

Fumio Hayasaka

Sound

• Biography…c and film scores. He is best known for his work with Akira Kurosawa and Kenji Mizoguchi, including Rashomon and Seven Samurai. His early death at 41 cut short a career t…
• Key filmsRashomon: Kurosawa's international breakthrough; Hayasaka's score, with its Bolero-like build, is among his most celebrated. Seven Samurai: Provided the score for Kurosaw…