Six films to screend in Memory of Akira Kurosawa<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): In September last year, Japan's best-known
\ndirector Akira Kurosawa died at the age of 88 after devoting his
\nlife to putting Japanese cinema on the international stage.<\/p>\n
His 30 films have influenced a generation of directors both in
\nJapan and other parts of the world.<\/p>\n
Kurosawa, dubbed the emperor of Japanese cinema, was renowned
\nfor his haunting lyricism, technical mastery and the brilliance
\nwith which he melded traditional Japanese theatrical forms with
\nepic presentation.<\/p>\n
In memory of the legendary director, six of Kurosawa's movies
\nwill be screened at the Usmar Ismail Film Center in Kuningan,
\nSouth Jakarta, from Feb. 9 to Feb. 14. The six-day event has been
\norganized by the Japan Foundation and the Usmar Ismail Film
\nCenter.<\/p>\n
Kurosawa's black and white Shizukanaru Ketto (Quiet Duel),
\nbased on a tragic lay by Kazuo Kikuta, will be screened at the
\nopening of the event on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. and the following day at
\n4 p.m.<\/p>\n
The 1949 film, which stars Toshiro Mifune, Miki Sanjo and
\nTakashi Shimura, is set in a military hospital in 1944 and
\nfocuses on the dilemma facing a doctor after he contracts a
\nvenereal disease from a patient during surgery.<\/p>\n
On Feb. 10, the film center will screen Kurosawa's 1950 work
\nShubun (Scandal) at 7 p.m. and at 4 p.m. on the following day.
\nThe 104-minute film stars Toshiro Mifune, Yoshiko Yamaguchi and
\nTakashi Shimura.<\/p>\n
In this, his 11th film, Kurosawa tried to express his anger at
\nthe injustice and prejudice of his society through a scandal
\ninvolving a famous singer and a new actress who became the
\nvictims of those looking for sensational news.<\/p>\n
Kurosawa's Hakuchi (Idiot) is next on the list. The 1951 film
\nwill be screened twice, on Feb. 11 at 9 p.m. and at 4 p.m. on
\nFeb. 12.<\/p>\n
The 170-minute film, adapted from Dostoyevski's novel, is
\nabout Kameda, a World War II prisoner of war who escapes
\nexecution but is then diagnosed as an idiot during treatment for
\ndepression in a hospital in the U.S.<\/p>\n
On his return to his homeland, Kameda falls in love to a woman
\nand has to fight his friend to win her love.<\/p>\n
Ikiru (Doomed to Live), which received the Silver Bear award
\nat the Berlin Film Festival, will be screened on Feb. 12 at 9
\np.m.<\/p>\n
Takashi Shimura and Himori Shinichi star in this 1952 movie
\nwhich recounts the tale of a submissive government employee who
\nis disappointed with his only child. The official takes stock of
\nhis situation and decides to dedicate the rest of his life to
\nachieving something worthwhile.<\/p>\n
A discussion featuring two speakers is planned for Feb. 13 at
\n10 a.m. The first speaker, Hartanto, is the dean of the Film and
\nTelevision Department in the Jakarta Arts Institute Film. He will
\nspeak on the subject of Kurosawa's cinematographic
\naccomplishments, while Leila S. Chudori of Tempo will discuss the
\nman and his work.<\/p>\n
In the 1954 Kurosawa film Shichinin no Samurai (Seven Samurai)
\nvillagers terrorized by a gang of bandits seven warriors to
\nprotect them. The film will be shown on the evening of Feb. 13 at
\n7 p.m.<\/p>\n
The film won widespread acclaim when it was released and
\ninspired The Magnificent Seven, a famous Hollywood western
\nstarring Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen.<\/p>\n
Kurosawa's 30th and last film, Madadayo (Not Yet), is a
\nrevealing story about the relationship between a retired
\nuniversity teacher and his former students. It rounds of the
\nevent on Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. The movie, which was released in 1993,
\nalso marked the 50th anniversary of Kurosawa's career as a film
\ndirector.<\/p>\n
Born in Tokyo in 1910, Kurosawa was the youngest of eight
\nchildren. He married actress Yoko Yaguchi in 1950 and had two
\nchildren, a son called Hisao and a daughter named Kazuko.<\/p>\n
Kurosawa turned to the cinema after failing to get into art
\nschool.<\/p>\n
His first film credit was as an assistant director in the 1936
\nfilm Senman Choja. But it was in 1943 that he directed his first
\nfilm, Sugata Sanshiro.<\/p>\n
His breakthrough came in 1950 with the release of Rashomon. In
\n1951 the film won the Golden Lion award for best picture at the
\nVenice International Film Festival -- the first time the work of
\na Japanese director had ever received international recognition.
\nThe film went on to win an Oscar for best foreign film in the
\nfollowing year.<\/p>\n
Kurosawa's second Oscar came in 1975, with Dersu Uzala, a
\nRussian production set in Siberia.<\/p>\n
The Cannes Film Festival honored Kurosawa in 1985 with a
\nspecial trophy for achievement upon the release of his 28th film,
\nRan, an adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear,<\/p>\n
In 1990, he became the first Japanese citizen to receive an
\nhonorary Academy Award for his lifetime achievements.<\/p>\n
Although revered abroad, Kurosawa had a love-hate relationship
\nwith his homeland.<\/p>\n
Most of his works used Japanese themes like the warrior
\nspirit, but he often had to look elsewhere for financial and
\nartistic support. On example of this was in 1980, when George
\nLucas and Steven Spielberg persuaded 20th Century Fox to back the
\nmaking of Kagemusha (the Shadow Warrior), Kurosawa's 27th film.<\/p>\n
Those interested in watching Kurosawa's films can obtain
\nfurther information from the Japan Foundation on 021-5201266 or
\nthe Usmar Ismail Film Center on 021-5268458.<\/p>",
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