1994 Kyoto Prize Laureates

Arts and Philosophy

Theater, Cinema

Akira Kurosawa

/  Film Director

1910 - 1998

Commemorative Lectures

My View of Movies

1994

11 /11 Fri

Place:Kyoto International Conference Center

Workshop

Talk about Cinema with Maestro Akira Kurosawa

1994

11 /12 Sat

13:20 - 17:25

Place:Kyoto International Conference Hall

Achievement Digest

A Film Director Who Has Pursued the Humanity with an Acute Insight and Highly Original Images

A film director who has created many outstanding works including Rashomon in his long career. The penetrating insights into humanity, profoundly humanitarian themes, and powerful original expressiveness of his films have deeply impressed audiences the world over.

*This category then was Category of Creative Arts and Moral Sciences.

Citation

Mr. Akira Kurosawa is a world-famous film director in Japan. Over this half century, he has continuously presented masterpieces which deeply affect audiences through his insights into human nature; unshaken humanism; and powerful, and drastic expressions through all his works.

Mr. Kurosawa began his career as a painter, showing extraordinary talents. But, later he chose to become a film director. Since his first film in 1943, Mr. Kurosawa has perfected topics that portray human characters who courageously fight adversities in life. His representative works, “Ikiru”(To Live), and “Seven Samurais” both are salient in their portrayal of the noble and strong-willed characters who face severe challenges but choose to live bravely with their strong sense of righteousness, mission, and death-defying courage. His “Rashomon” became the first memorable Japanese film to attract worldwide attention. Mr. Kurosawa sought his material throughout the world, including Shakespeare, Dostoyevski, and even today’s American television dramas. But in each case, he transplanted them to a Japanese cultural environment and created dramas that pursued the essence of human nature.

Another characteristic of Mr. Kurosawa’s works is their original expressions. The scorching heat in the bush as shown in “Rashomon,” the pouring rain in the fighting scene of “Seven Samurai” are examples of often violent expressions which are related intimately with the theme. His abundant artistic talent as a painter allowed him to make effective uses of montages, and created a new aesthetic form with each new work, keeping the “Kurosawa” style at the vanguard of his art.

The fact that Mr. Kurosawa’s works have won many awards at international film festivals is evidence of his works worldwide esteem. Moreover, we should recognize that the powerful handing of themes and rich expressions in Mr. Kurosawa’s works have stimulated many other filmmakers in the world and greatly influenced the development of cinematography.

While his works contain such high artistic values, the primary charm of Mr. Kurosawa’s film is that never fail to fulfill the audience’s enjoyment of movies.

At 84, Mr. Kurosawa is still at the forefront, burning with his zeal to create films that open new territory. Mr. Kurosawa is at the pinnacle of 20th Century cinematography and is the most befitting recipient of the 1994 Kyoto Prize in Creative Arts and Moral Sciences.

Profile

Biography
1910
Born in Tokyo
1928
Graduated from Keika Middle School
1936
Joined PCL Film Studio
1939
Worked with director Kajiro Yamamoto as B group director for Uma
1943
Directed his first film Sanshiro Sugata
1959
Established Kurosawa Production
1985
Ran invited for the opening of the first Tokyo International Film Festival
1990
Yume invited for the opening of the Cannes International Film Festival
Selected Awards and Honors
1951
Rashomon awards the Golden Lion Prize at the Venice International Film Festival
1952
Ikiru awarded the Silver Berlin Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival
1954
Seven Samurai awarded the Silver Lion Prize at the Venice International Film Festival
1974
Dersu Uzala awarded the Gold Prize at the Moscow Film Festival
1980
Kagemusha awarded Grand Prix at Cannes International Film Festival
1984
Legion d'Honneur
1985
The Order of Culture
1990
Honorary Academy Award, U.S.A.
Selected Works
1946
Waga Seishun ni Kuinashi
1951
Hakuchi
1958
Kakushi-toride no San-akunin
1965
Akahige
1985
Ran
1993
Maadadayo

Profile is at the time of the award.

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