Akira Kurosawa: A Viewer’s Guide

A Year of HitchcockMore than 30 works by the greatest director in cinema history, including a never before analyzed documentary made in the early 1970s. Intended for both casual fans and student of cinema alike. Without question, the most comprehensive print examination of the works of Akira Kurosawa available for the casual reader and the cinephile. That’s Akira Kurosawa: A Viewer’s Guide.

With a director as accomplished and influential as Akira Kurosawa, the mission seemed simple enough: Watch the complete works of the legendary director of Seven Samurai, Rashomon and Yojimbo, and do so in chronological order. Do it with an eye towards Kurosawa’s development as an artist, the recurring themes in his work, and what both Kurosawa aficionados and casual fans alike should notice in these great films.

That’s exactly what Eric San Juan did in Akira Kurosawa: A Viewer’s Guide (Rowman & Littlefield 2018).

In Akira Kurosawa: A Viewer’s Guide, Eric San Juan provides a comprehensive yet accessible examination of the artist’s entire cinematic endeavors. From early films of the 1940s such as Sanshiro Sugata and No Regrets for Our Youth to Oscar winner Dersu Uzala—the author helps readers understand what makes Kurosawa’s work so powerful. Each discussion includes a brief synopsis of the film, an engaging analysis, and thoughtful insights into the film’s significance.

All of Kurosawa’s works, from 1943 to 1993, are analyzed here, including the overlooked television documentary Song of the Horse, produced in 1970. In addition to more than twenty photos, Akira Kurosawa: A Viewer’s Guide provides rich discussions that will appeal to students of cinema as well as anyone who wants to learn more about Japan’s greatest director.

The book is currently available in hardcover by Rowman & Littlefield.

Praise for Akira Kurosawa: A Viewer’s Guide

“Focusing on Kurosawa’s themes rather than his techniques, San Juan readily succeeds in his goal of creating an accessible appreciation of Kurosawa’s work … (The book) has appeal for cinephiles and casual movie viewers alike.”Publisher’s Weekly

“A very well written, welcome book that fills a space that has existed for a while in English language Kurosawa bibliography.”Akira Kurosawa Info

NEWS COVERAGE

How to make the perfect Akira Kurosawa video game – The Indian Express, July 4, 2020

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