Even though I was well aware of Akira Kurosawa as master filmmaker but for reason unknown I never went our watching his movies. I remember leaving the Screening of Seven Samurai half way through in my first year in college, during that time I was pre-occupied discovering Ozu and other filmmakers, however, two years later, and after completing this book. In a span of a month, I saw as many Akira Kurosawa movies as possible. I started with with Stray Dog and finally ended with Maddayyo. Along the way I saw each and every movie which I could get a hold on, whether by watching it in college; forcing for a screening or watching it purchasing a bootlegged copy, unluckily we don’t have a Cinemathque.

A common tapestry ran through all his movies, meticulous mise-en- scene, a great narrative focus and perfect use of sound and score, and each movie you knew one is in a grip of a master from the very start- The final battle sequence in Seven Samurai, the clever use of ellipses at the end of The Bad Sleep Well or the hoarse voice of Kanji Watanbe singing as he swings away on a cold winter night. Kurosawa san movies not only allowed us to experience something which we haven’t seen before, but it also gives us a glimpse on various stages and periods of Japanese culture and society, even though he was said to be the most westernized of the Japanese director’s his movie are a social critique of the Japanese society too, however, the great focus has always been in underlying the various aspects of human emotions, the way we act, the way we behave and our relations with the landscape and surrounding, and above all Kurosawa san movies are universal in their portrayal of humanity.

My favourite Akira Kurosawa films

Ikriu
Ran
Seven Samurai
Yojimbo
The Bad Sleep Well
Throne of Blood
Red Beard
The Hidden Fortess
High And Low
Stray Dog
Kagemeshu
Maddayyo