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The career of acclaimed filmmaker Akira Kurosawa spanned more than five decades, during which he directed more than thirty movies, many of them indisputable classics: Rashomon, Ikiru, Seven Samurai, The Hidden Fortress, Throne of Blood, and Yojimbo, among others. During the height of his creative output, Kurosawa became one of the most influential and well-known directors in the world, inspiring filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and George Lucas and movies such as The Magnificent Seven; The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly; and Star Wars. 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.

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