There are only a handful of filmmakers in the world that are bestowed with the prefix of legendary. Akira Kurosawa is one of them. Often credited as one of cinema’s all-time greats, Kurosawa’s films are viewed as case studies, still taught and revered among the various corridors of students and fans alike.
With a career spanning over five decades, Kurosawa made around 30 movies and has influenced many modern-day directors, from Steven Spielberg to Stanley Kubrick. With a thirst for life and a taste for cinema, Kurosawa’s films transcended the language barrier and charmed fans throughout the world. Following his death at in 1998, Kurosawa’s favorite films were compiled into the book Yume wa tensai de aru (A Dream is a Genius) with the permission of his family, and released for the world to see. Here are 10 great movie recommendations from Kurosawa’s 100 favorite films.
10 The French Connection (1971)
William Friedkin’s iconic film won five Academy Awards and influenced numerous directors, from Akira Kurosawa to David Fincher. Friedkin’s film is particularly known for its gritty, handheld cinematography shot in a very guerrilla filmmaking type of way; a trait that can be traced by to Friedkin’s documentary filmmaking days. Another standout element in the film was Gene Hackman’s portrayal of Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle, a crooked cop with a no-holds-barred approach.
9 The Birds (1963)
Directed by “the master of suspense”, Alfred Hitchcock, The Birds is a nerve-racking case study in atmospheric tension. Despite having a very different approach to filmmaking, both legendary filmmakers maintained mutual respect towards each other’s work. Although Kurosawa didn’t really dip his hands in the horror category too much, he could spot a good film when he saw it.
8 La Strada (1954)
Federico Fellini’s La Strada is another classic on the list. Another legendary director and contemporary, Fellini’s films were surrealistic; spiritual with an afterglow of philosophy and intellectualism. Having caused a stir in the West with his first three movies, it was La Strada that turned heads in the West and forced fans and critics alike to take notice of Fellini’s prowess as a director of depth, with Bob Dylan becoming a fan in particular, crediting the film as one of the inspirations for “Mr. Tambourine Man”.
7 The Godfather: Part II (1974)
When it comes to gangster movies, many would attest to the fact that Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 magnum opus The Godfather is at the top of the food chain. Following up on the first part, Coppola released its sequel two years later, and it didn’t disappoint. The Godfather: Part II hit the bullseye and was considered a great success, having impressed fans and filmmakers alike, with Kurosawa being an admirer in particular.
6 Barry Lyndon (1975)
While fans would gravitate towards films like A Clockwork Orange and The Shining, Kurosawa’s favorite Kubrick film was Barry Lyndon. Set against the backdrop of 18th-century England, Kubrick’s film is lauded for its cinematography and technical artistry, while facilitating a beautiful marriage between camerawork and production design.
5 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)
Based on Ken Kesey’s best-selling novel of the same name, Miloš Forman’s film is considered as a milestone in filmmaking, winning five Academy Awards while ranking No.33 on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years…100 Movies List. With such a rich background of accolades, it comes as no surprise that Forman’s film garnered admiration throughout the globe, impressing one Japanese master in particular – Akira Kurosawa.
4 Pather Panchali (1955)
Ray was to India what Kurosawa was to Japan. A beacon of cinematic light, responsible for illuminating and enlightening an entire country, Ray’s films introduced Indian cinema to the world and world cinema to India. After watching Pather Panchali, Kurosawa commented, “Not to have seen the cinema of Ray means existing in the world without seeing the sun or the moon.”
3 Paris, Texas (1984)
Paris, Texas requires a certain amount of patience and investment for it to bloom and culminate into a work of art. Much like most of Win Wenders movies, Paris, Texas is a character-focused film that has themes of spirituality and while tackling the meaning of life. Despite being 40 years since its release, Wender’s film still holds water and is as richly mysterious and mesmeric as it’s ever been.
2 Late Spring (1949)
Yasujirõ Ozu was another Japanese filmmaker that started his career around the same time as Kurosawa, and rose to prominence in the early late ’40s and early ’50s, with films like Tokyo Story, Late Spring, and Early Summer. Like most of Ozu’s work, Late Spring offers an emotional outlook on the restraint of self-identity and the complicated influence of familial ties. Out of most of Ozu’s work, Kurosawa thought Late Spring to be his best.
1 The 400 Blows (1959)
François Truffaut’s The 400 Blows is one of the best coming-of-age movies, often remembered as a watershed milestone in the French New Wave Movement. Apart from being Truffaut’s crown jewel, The 400 Blows was an exceptionally personal film to the director, almost semi-autobiographica in its approach, as it offers a very different take on childhood and growing up.