Overview

The samurai films of legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa are set in the past, but they tell us much about the present, as do his crime stories, romances, military films, medical dramas and art films. His movies are beloved for their timeless protagonists and haunting vistas of old Japan, but we haven't yet fully grasped everything they can teach us about modern Japan. Kurosawa's films evolved as Japan redefined and reinvented itself, from movies made for the wartime regime to those made amid the trials of American occupation. From the lavish epics of the economic miracle years to searching masterpieces made with international assistance in a globalizing world, Kurosawa's movies responded to changing times. This detailed study of all 30 of Kurosawa's films analyzes the links between the thrilling narratives onscreen and the equally remarkable events that occurred in Japan over his long, productive career. This book explores how Kurosawa's classics depict the political, economic, cultural, sexual and environmental upheavals of a nation at the center of a turbulent century, both directly and through period-piece mythmaking.

Full Product Details

Author:   David A. Conrad
Publisher:   McFarland & Co Inc
Imprint:   McFarland & Co Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 17.80cm , Height: 1.30cm , Length: 25.40cm
Weight:   0.476kg
ISBN:  

9781476686745

ISBN 10:   1476686742
Pages:   260
Publication Date:   06 May 2022
Recommended Age:   From 18 years
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Table of Contents Acknowledgments On Names, Transliteration, Titles, and How to Read This Book Introduction: Kurosawa and the Japanese Century Part One. The War Years Chapter 1. Sanshirō Sugata Chapter 2. The Most Beautiful Chapter 3. Sanshirō Sugata Part II Part Two. The Occupation Years Chapter 4. The Men Who Tread on the Tiger’s Tail Chapter 5. No Regrets for Our Youth Chapter 6. One Wonderful Sunday Chapter 7. Drunken Angel Chapter 8. The Quiet Duel Chapter 9. Stray Dog Chapter 10. Scandal Chapter 11. Rashōmon Chapter 12. The Idiot Chapter 13. Ikiru Part Three. The Miracle Years Chapter 14. Seven Samurai Chapter 15. Record of Living Things Chapter 16. Spiderweb Castle Chapter 17. The Lower Depths Chapter 18. The Hidden Fortress Chapter 19. The Bad Sleep Well Chapter 20. Yōjimbō Chapter 21. Tsubaki Sanjūrō Chapter 22. Heaven and Hell Chapter 23. Redbeard Part Four. The Global Years Chapter 24. Dodesukaden Chapter 25. Dersu Uzala Chapter 26. Kagemusha Chapter 27. Ran Chapter 28. Dreams Chapter 29. Rhapsody in August Chapter 30. Mādadayo Epilogue Chapter Notes Bibliography Index

Reviews

"""Written in a very clean, very easy-to-read style that allows the argument to flow naturally, almost conversationally, making it a real pleasure to read...excellent...recommend.""--Akira Kurosawa News"

Author Information

David A. Conrad grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, spent three transformative years in Japan’s Miyagi prefecture, and received a Ph.D. in history from the University of Texas at Austin in 2016. He lives in Leander, Texas.

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