Anyone who has an interest in Eastern cinema, or even foreign cinema in general, should be familiar with Akira Kurosawa.  He is the Japanese master of film that inspired so many of America’s own directors and writers.  His film The Hidden Fortress (1958) was the basis for Lucas’s first Star Wars film.  Yojimbo (1961) inspired the Clint Eastwood classic A Fistful of Dollars.  So many of his films have made their way to the West in one form or another that it is impossible to be a movie viewer of any sort and not have at least touched upon Kurosawa’s legacy.

Kurosawa’s life was not always one of fame and brilliance, however.  As a child he was dedicated to everything he did and as an adult he was notorious for staying up all night and writing an entire script.  Not all of his films immediately rocketed to success.  In fact, most of what he made did less-than-well.  But he still persevered and kept making movies all the way up to his death in 1998.

Actors and crewmembers say that working with Kurosawa was one of the hardest and at the same time most rewarding experiences they have ever had.  He would drive those that he worked with, sometimes to the point of physical harm, but he also inspired such a loyalty that people were willing to push themselves in order to help him achieve his vision.  This intense attention to detail and perfection is apparent in Kurosawa’s films and part of what makes them so amazing.  Kurosawa admitted himself that he hated working with dialogue, and another sign of his brilliance comes across in the often long scenes filled with movement but with not a single word spoken. 

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.  Luckily, he left behind a body of work that takes weeks to watch and years of re-watching to fully appreciate.