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Akira Kurosawa

Something Like An Autobiography Paperback – Illustrated, May 12, 1983

by Akira Kurosawa (Author)

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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

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Editorial Reviews

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From the Back Cover

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

ASIN : 0394714393
Publisher : Vintage; Illustrated edition (May 12, 1983)
Language : English
Paperback : 205 pages
ISBN-10 : 9780394714394
ISBN-13 : 978-0394714394
Item Weight : 7.2 ounces
Dimensions : 5.2 x 0.62 x 7.97 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #36,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #18 in Japanese Biographies
- #22 in Movie Director Biographies
- #32 in Video Direction & Production (Books)

Customer Reviews:
190 ratings

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G Bates

Not just for cinephiles.

Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2019

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I picked up this book because I have enjoyed several of the films of Akira Kurosawa, and I like to read biographies.
The author tells of his life, from a surprising memory of infancy to midlife, from family life to success as a film writer and director. I found it interesting that his childhood was more or less at the beginning of Japan's modern era. So he relates some of his experience of the old and new.
I appreciated his self-editing. He tells enough to keep his story interesting, without throwing in the kitchen sink. Honest, but not oversharing.
Also, towards the end of the book, Kurosawa offers observations, wisdom on the creative process, writing and filmmaking. Good enough. I read it on Kindle, and hope to find a hard copy.
Yes, I would say that this book should be of interest to Kurosawa fans, but also to people in interested in writing and filmmaking. Time well spent.

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Essential reading

Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2020

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Although written in 1982, Akira Kurosawa chose to end with what many consider the first of his masterworks, Rashomon in 1950. In eloquent self effacing prose (beautifully translated), he lays out his family life in what he calls a "samurai household," as opposed to those of classmates with more modern upbringings. So it is thanks to his father's insistence on a strict regime of training and visits to shrines, all before breakfast, and excellence in productivity, that Kurosawa attained a deeper understanding of samurai culture. His films are without parallel, and this book gives the reader insight into why such excellence came to be.

3 people found this helpful

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Christopher Barrett

A wonderful book on the life and mind of Akira Kurosawa.

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2014

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Purchased used - good from Blue Cloud Books for $0.94 plus $3.99 shipping. Very happy with the condition of the book. The Kindle edition seems a good price at $9.99. but I prefer the actual book in hand.

The book is an autobiography of sorts written in 1982, in the waning years of Kurosawa's life and career. It seems it was dictated to another person since it follows a train of thought progression. Either that or Kurosawa penned it this way. Either way, there is a purity to the storytelling that feels as if the reader is sitting across from the director, conversing over tea.

A lot of the book focuses on his early life, and the reader empathizes greatly with the young Kurosawa. There was much tragedy in his young life, both within his family, but also with the nation of Japan during the years leading up to and including the war. Much of his early career was spent trying to work on and create good films while appeasing the Japanese censors. Then post war, the American military was censoring the films. The guy couldn't win!

A lot of the book also praises a lot of the directors, actors, and staff that Kurosawa worked for or worked with. He gives somber praise to his predecessors, especially his mentor, Kajiro Yamamoto. Kurosawa is very self deprecating at times, looking back and considering his actions at the time or decisions he made in his youth. But with those he admired, he gives credit where credit is due.

Which is not to say this is a look back in regret. Instead Kurosawa touches on times, events, and emotions from the past. His laments are brief and heartfelt. In a few chapters he admits that he had a fiery temper, so he often writes about regret at letting his anger get the better of him.

This isn't truly a look at Kurosawa's films, but instead a look at his life and the events surrounding his career. I would say this is not the same style of biography as Bergmann's "A Life in Film" which focuses on the films themselves. Much of this book also touches on the events surrounding life in Japan during Kurosawa's life. We feel the horror he felt after the great Kanto earthquake or the helplessness of the life of an artist leading up to World War 2. We sense that his films had depth and impact because Kurosawa worked so hard to get results during such trying times. It is a testament to his stubbornness, ambition, and dedication that he was able to craft the best films of his career during these times (pre-war, during war, and post-war).

If you are a fan of Kurosawa and want to know more about the life and mind of this genius director, then this is a wonderful book to read. If you are expecting a point by point synopsis of his films, there are better texts out there (often much more expensive), such as 'The Films of Kurosawa' by Donald Richie (which is excellent by the way!).

4 people found this helpful

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Blaine Fuller

Deep Dive into Legends Earliest Years

Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2019

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About two thirds of the book is not on filmmaking but Akira Kurosawa’s childhood. It puts childhood in a context that is very unique, recalling smells and sounds. It jogged my memory of my own childhood, oddly enough. There are some good bits about the making of the earliest Kurosawa films and there are a couple good bits on how to be a better director. Entertaining, visual writing.

One person found this helpful

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Corrie

Very good.

Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2005

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"No matter where I go in the world, although I can't speak any foreign language, I don't feel out of place. I think of the earth as my home. If everyone thought this way, people might notice just how foolish international friction is, and they would put an end to it." (pg. 61)

The Japanese style of film production was so different than ours... particularly compared to Hollywood today... anyhow, if you like Kurosawa's work, you'd probably really enjoy reading his autobiography.

"During youth the desire for self-expression is so overpowering that most people end up by losing all grasp on their real selves." (pg.88)

He recalls his spartan childhood, his supportive parents, an eye-opening earthquake, his brother's suicide, and his final arrival on the Toho studio lot. Interspersed with stories about fellow professionals and self-realization, Kurosawa delves into the creation of his films and screenplays. He tells of throwing a lightbulb at a director, his problems with alcohol, and his affection for his crew. In fact the least talked about aspect of his life if his family who obviously took second seat to his love affair with film.

"My films emerge from my own desire to say a particular thing at a particular time." (pg.192)

The book is chock full of good advice for aspiring directors and even includes an addendum with related notes on filmmaking. While you may not agree with all of Kurosawas theories, I think everyone can learn something from his experiences.

"I am not a special person. I am not especially strong; I am not especially gifted. I simply do not like to show my weakness, and I hate to lose, so I am a person who tries hard. That's all there is to me." (pg.159)

7 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Ian Richardson

Truly Fascinating.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2020

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Kurosawa is one of the greatest and most original film-makers of the 20th Century and I would rank him alongside Bergman, Hitchcock, Ford, Spielberg (who is a fan) etc. It is probably the case that you have to be a fan of Kurosawa's films to really enjoy this book. It is because of it's appeal to this, very specific, audience that I give it four stars. Not because of any weakness in the book itself. However, anyone new to Kurosawa will also find this a fascinating and insightful book. It might well encourage you to seek out the films. Indeed, I would say that the ideal preparation for reading the book would be to watch Rashomon, whose winning of the Golden Lion and Italian Critics Award at the Venice Film Festival of 1950 took the movie-going world by surprise. (Not least, the director, who did not even know that it had been entered). In fact a special "honorary" Academy Award was given several years before the Best Foreign Language Award was officially created.
This book ends with the success of Rashomon, so what we have here is an account of Kurosawa's childhood, youth and his early years in the Japanese film industry. As Kurosawa says, the rest of his life can be found in his films. Most of his better known and internationally-famous films were made after 1950, so this is a great way to make sense of the origins and nature of the Japanese film industry, and Kurosawa's place in it. It is also a brilliant starting point from which to go and watch those fabulous later films. I found it utterly wonderful. Kurosawa's life is reflected in his film-making to a fascinating degree and he is unusually perceptive about his own creative processes. His writing is poetic, literary and often strikingly vivid. This befits a man who started as a visual artist and trained himself to be a writer. He also has a self-deprecating, dry wit that is very engaging. This is not common. There are several great film-makers (I will name no names!) who are profoundly inarticulate when it comes to talking about their own films. Kurosawa is also blessed with a superb translation by the Fulbright Scholar, Audie Bock, who spent many hours with the director and watched him filming the stunning Kagemusha in the late 1970s. It's clear that this was a great labour of love for the translator and it shows in the care she has taken to make the director's meaning crystal clear at every turn.
I would describe this as the best book that I know about the craft of film-making, as well as the best insight into the life and work of one particular genius. (...and I do not use that word lightly).

2 people found this helpful

Felix Lector

Rare and valuable memoirs from a great artist

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 8, 2017

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A startlingly honest and wonderfully detailed account of the beginnings of AK's life and early career. He paints a warts and all self-portrait, almost a confessional at times:from open and honest stories about his childhood, then onwards to the successes and failures of the earliest films in his oeuvre. It is all achieved with a guile-less charm, wit and perception, and entirely lacking pomposity or self-deception. He has a justifiable go every so often at critics and other filmmakers who misread his work, and he is utterly honest in assessing his own successes and failures. Even when it's not specifically about his film-making, the book is a marvellous reminder of how the most apparently small insignificant incidents in life can be grist to the mill of a great artist. When the big stuff happens- the great Kanto earthquake of his childhood, the war in the Pacific when he was starting out as a director, his memories are described with the vivid detail of a great screenwriter as well as director. All this is enhanced by a fine translation from Audie Bock, who, like Donald Ritchie before her, was as close to Kurosawa as any westerner could be.

2 people found this helpful

Brian D.

... fascinated by the Japanese culture and Kurosawa gives a brilliant view of pre-war Japan in his early years

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 8, 2017

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Always been fascinated by the Japanese culture and Kurosawa gives a brilliant view of pre-war Japan in his early years. He is truly among the greats of twentieth century film directors. Other great books https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/kindle/ku/sign-up/ui/rw/about/ref=sr_ku_lm?qid=1507466137https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/kindle/ku/sign-up/ui/rw/about/ref=sr_ku_lm?qid=1507466137https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/kindle/ku/sign-up/ui/rw/about/ref=sr_ku_lm?qid=1507466137

Alex

Kept dad entertained

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 15, 2019

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Fredrick says yay so 5 stars.

One person found this helpful

Mrs Carlie J Sayer

Present.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 15, 2020

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Bought for my son.

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