Something Like An Autobiography

by Akira Kurosawa

Paperback, 1983

Status

Available

Call number

PN1998.A3 K789413

Genres

Publication

Vintage (1983), Edition: First Edition Thus, 205 pages

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

User reviews

LibraryThing member Cecrow

I'm not a huge film buff, but I do like "The Seven Samurai" and I know the influence this man had on George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. This autobiography does not extend beyond the release of Rashomon in 1950, although there are brief glimpses of moments beyond that up to 1983. The first half of

the book is devoted to Kurosawa's childhood and education. Japan's is a culture entirely foreign to my own but I could easily relate to the early lessons he learned about parents, siblings, bullies, teachers good and bad, self-confidence, success and failure, and the odd role that chance plays in one's life. Aimless in his youth, all of his varied artistic interests conspired to make him a powerful film director, a line of work he almost accidentally stumbled into.

Kurosawa's writing is informal and easy, and the material is well organized. He's very honest in his self-assessment, presenting a three-dimensional self portrait that acknowledges weaknesses; he even proposes what his blind spots might be, urging the reader to take these into account. I wasn't as taken up by the second half which mentioned only highlights of his experiences while making his first several films, and centered more on the people he worked with and circumstances he faced than his personal development. Its best aspect was the insight into Japanese film industry and how that contrasts with the Hollywood experience. This portion would be of more interest to film buffs. It wasn't really enough to make me start looking for his early titles, but I'll keep this biography as a handy reference for trivia if I ever track them down in future.

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LibraryThing member Michael.Rimmer

Something like an autobiography, and something much more like a memoir, which is no bad thing. Kurosawa explains that he'd rather his work speak for him, but that in his old age, he's been persuaded to write about himself.

The first half of the book beautifully evokes the pre-war Japan of his

childhood, his adventures with his friends, his brother and parents. Then, his 'bohemian' period as a struggling painter and writer, then his almost accidental entry into the movie industry. The later chapters revolve around his film-making and studio politics, but always involve the personal, rather than dry history. He ends with the production of his classic film, Rashomon, on 1950, saying he'd now written enough and he was losing interest in the memoir project. An honest (though he questions his own honesty), fascinating, and conversational account of a major figure of 20th century culture.

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LibraryThing member kslade

Great self-portrait of the early days of one of my favorite movie directors, who made The Seven Samurai, my favorite film. Very interesting.

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