A life of the samurai saturated with Kurosawa's ideas, painted on screen, much like his storyboards.

Do you remember the first time you saw an Akira Kurosawa film?

Mine was Rashomon. It was a tale of a murdered man told from 4 different perspectives, even by the murdered man himself. Copied and quoted, he is one of the most influential directors of all time, even after his passing.

Using Toshiro Mifune in many his movies, he almost always centered around the wandering, loner of a samurai--using the dignity of the fading class of old Asia. He was obessive about his approach, editing his own films and using his art background to paint his storyboards before his shoots. He would take over every aspect of the film process, using what he learned earlier as an Assistant Director.

He was a master at his art and it showed. Many of his films were adapted to US versions that starred Clint Eastwood.

The use of rain in many of his films--to symbolize struggle and despair--always gave the appropriate mood for his flailing actors and environments. Kurosawa's movies speak, and they demand attention. He was a delight and a treasure of a director.

Recommended films:

1. Red Beard
2. Seven Samurai
3. Yojimbo

- Sean Marrone