Something Like An Autobiography (Paperback)

~ (Author) "I WAS IN the washtub naked..." (more)
Key Phrases: chief assistant director, censorship bureau, fencing school, Kuroda Primary School, Drunken Angel, Keika Middle School (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Translated by Audie E. Bock.

"A first rate book and a joy to read.... It's doubtful that a complete understanding of the director's artistry can be obtained without reading this book.... Also indispensable for budding directors are the addenda, in which Kurosawa lays out his beliefs on the primacy of a good script, on scriptwriting as an essential tool for directors, on directing actors, on camera placement, and on the value of steeping oneself in literature, from great novels to detective fiction."
--Variety

"For the lover of Kurosawa's movies...this is nothing short of must reading...a fitting companion piece to his many dynamic and absorbing screen entertainments."
--Washington Post Book World

Language Notes

Text: English, Japanese (translation)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Vintage; 1st Vintage Books Ed edition (May 12, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394714393
• ISBN-13: 978-0394714394
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #207,681 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Something" is everything, August 21, 2004

By	E. A Solinas "ea_solinas" (MD USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Akira Kurosawa is now considered one of the founding fathers of cinema, but you wouldn't know it from "Something Like An Autobiography." In this book, Kurosawa is surprisingly humble and humorous when describing his life, and keeps it interesting rather than lapsing into the mechanics of filmmaking.

Born to an old samurai family, Kurosawa was a bit of an ugly duckling -- he wasn't very bright or athletic, but he had a definite drive to learn and a distinct artistic sense. He ran into a few dead ends (like his flirtation with socialism) and didn't get into the Japanese army during WW2 (something he was quite grateful for). But then Kurosawa fell headlong into scriptwriting and directing -- something that would make him famous around the world.

Usually when people talk about Kurosawa, they mention "Star Wars." And yes, Kurosawa's "Hidden Fortress" was a shaping influence on George Lucas. But Kurosawa gave the world plenty of other movie flourishes: the "wipe" effect between scenes, slow motion, pointing a camera at the sun, and many other things.

Kurosawa really gives insight into his heart and his artistry in this. Masterfully told, it's about the various parts of his life -- boyhood, adolescence, maturity, and everything in between. It's not about the making of each film, but mainly the things that were most memorable. After reading this, you'll have newfound respect for screenwriters and directors, and everything they struggle with.

But Kurosawa keeps a sense of humor about himself too. He admits frankly when he did something stupid or ignorant. And he relates some very funny anecdotes, such as his odd marriage proposal: "It looks as if we are going to lose the war, and if it comes to the point of the Honorable Death of the Hundred Million, we all have to die anyway. It's probably not a bad idea to find out what married life is like before that happens." Amazingly, despite a proposal like that, he got married. And in retrospect, Kurosawa seems entirely aware of how odd it sounds.

Kurosawa not only elaborates on his filmmaking, but his formative years as well -- a "slow" boy with a love of kendo and painting. His childhood was full of those events that seem insignificant to an adult, but he remembers them clearly as being deeply momentous at the time. He also describes his family as well -- his rebellious brother, sweet-natured mother, and strict father. One rather disappointing thing is about his wife, Yôko Yaguchi. He was married to Yaguchi for forty years and had two children with her, yet doesn't talk much about her.

Akira Kurosawa wrote a lively and engaging memoir in "Something Like An Autobiography. Honest, intriguing and insightful, it's a good read for anyone, not just movie buffs.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, July 17, 2002

By	"beancurdsbooks" (Rivendell) - See all my reviews

Something Like an Autobiography
by Akira Kurosawa
translated by Audie E. Bock

It seems obvious that this book is the first to turn to for admirers of Kurosawa's films who seek to know more about the legendary director's influences and ideas. This is the primary source in English for information about Kurosawa's early life and career, and all the film studies and biographies in print (including dvd commentary tracks and the recent documentary film) draw heavily on it.

It's an excellent book, ably translated by Audie E. Bock. Bock was Kurosawa's English translator and assistant for many years, and incidentally, has provided some of the better English subtitle translations of his films. Her translation of his text here is clear and direct.

In addition to being a great director, Kurosawa was a great scriptwriter, and he tells his own story in fine style through brief episodes that are replete with visual imagery (perhaps to be expected from a filmmaker). His recollection of his childhood is particularly revealing: of the turmoil and sweeping changes in early 20th century Japan, as well as the personal experiences and events that shaped the man he was to become.

Kurosawa recounts his story through his early career at Toho and Daiei up to the Venice Film Festival's award of the Grand Prix medal to Rashomon (1950). His decision not to proceed further is perhaps the book's only major disappointment, as Kurosawa was to live until 1998 and make many great films that are not discussed in the book.

Something Like an Autobiography will hold great appeal to any reader with an interest in 20th century Japanese culture in general, and is simply required reading for those seeking a deeper understanding of the Master's films.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Heart of Hope, June 3, 2001

By	Charlotte Ann Hu (Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This wonderful text brings the reader directly into one of the greatest minds in film history. Open, honest, real, Kurosawa shares his hopes, his fears, his true self with the reader. For those who admire Kurosawa's work, this book provides so much insight into how the great film maker got his ideas, his motivation and his drive. Unlike the Heart of Darkness, this film maker was filled with light in an otherwise dark time. Alive when the great earthquake hit Tokyo, this book takes the reader from the economic chaos of pre-WWII Japan, through the personal trials and tribulations of Ameican occupation as Kurosawa searches for an identity for his people in the modern era. Touching and painful is the reality that he had to travel aboard to make films because the international movie making genius was considered somehow second rate in Japan just because he was Japanese. Kurosawa said, I don't know why it is that Japanese people feel any thing Japanese is not good enough. His story illustrates the kind of sociological identity crisis that Japan as a whole experienced after WWII. Engaging.