The Humanistic Cinema of Akira Kurosawa

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About this video essay:
Analysis exploring the humanistic themes and filmmaking philosophy found in the beautiful compositions of movement from master of cinema Akira Kurosawa.
Other episodes in the Filmmaker Philosophies series:
Terrence Malick - • Understanding the Film...
Andrei Tarkovsky - • Praying Through Cinema...
Werner Herzog - • The Inner Chronicle of...
Sources:
Every Frame A Painting - Akira Kurosawa - Composing Movement: • Akira Kurosawa - Compo...
The Cinema Cartography - Seven Samurai - Drama Through Action: • Seven Samurai - Drama ...
Akira Kurosawa - Something Like An Autobiography: amzn.to/3bIbgw1
Roger Ebert on Kurosawa: www.rogerebert.com/interviews...
Further Reading:
Like Stories of Old - The Complete Reading List: kit.co/likestoriesofold/readi...
10 Books that changed my life: kit.co/likestoriesofold/10-bo...
10 More books that inspired my thinking: kit.co/likestoriesofold/10-mo...
Media included:
Drunken Angel; Stray Dog; Rashomon; Hakuchi; Ikiru; Seven Samurai; I Live in Fear; The Lower Depths; Throne of Blood; The Hidden Fortress; The Bad Sleep Well; Yojimbo; Sanjuro; High and Low; Red Beard; Dodesukaden; Dersu Uzala; Kagemusha; Ran; Dreams; Rhapsody in Agust; Madadayo; The Searchers; Silence; The Magnificent Seven; Star Wars IV: A New Hope; Ghost of Tsushima
Business inquiries: [e-mail]
Music:
Cathedral - Summer
Cathedral - Spring
Slow Meadow - Fake Magic Is Real
Dustin Lau - Portrait
Slow Meadow - Those Who Rush Across the Sea
Slow Meadow - We Can Only Love Through Suffering
Slow Meadow - Screensaver Prelude
Slow Meadow - A Small Balloon And A Great Mountain
Music licensed from Musicbed. Elevate your videos with record-label quality music here: share.mscbd.fm/likestoriesofold

[@renkehodl6603]

"Kuroswa even seems to argue that it is inevitable: that ultimately, our conscience is more powerful in keeping us connected [to the nature of things], than our ego is in keeping us attached" - this one is so optimistically powerful - simply beautiful

[@MrVvulf]

It's a tragedy that audiences missed the messages in one of my favorite Kurosawa movies - "Dodes'ka-den". It's Kurosawa's analysis and expansion of the line from John Milton's "Paradise Lost": “The mind is its own place and, in itself can make a heaven of hell or a hell of heaven."

[@lIlIlIlIlIIIlIllIIllIII]

detached*

[@jakelee7443]

I’m just commenting because this is legitimately my favorite channel on KZbin and more people need to see these videos. Sincerely - a LSOO simp.

[@spacemanspiff5322]

Like Simps Of Old

[@nc8982]

@@spacemanspiff5322 SIMP implies this content is mediocre. This channel is not mediocre

[@xXxBurnerable]

+1

[@dudebro0481]

SIMP TOGETHER STRONG ✊

[@Nefylym]

@@nc8982 dommy mommy

[@lautarosillero1645]

Once I read a text about the influences of Kurosawa in cinema, the tittle could't be more fitting: Kurosawa teach us to protect the weak. And it's one of the most beautiful things that can be said about this man.

[@hankhill3256]

We are all weak 😊

[@kshitijsrivastava6440]

Man, Kurosawa' movies were always beautiful

[@davedogge2280]

He's still in the top 10 directors ever in 2021 .. EASILY is so.

[@ericbates07]

Alongside Alfred Hitchcock as the greatest of all time

[@AnnaDraconida]

To me he IS the greatest.

[@cometcourse381]

@@ericbates07 Alfred Hitchcock? Are you kidding?

[@ericbates07]

@@cometcourse381 for me him and Alfred Hitchcock are the two greatest, made a mistake with the comment my bad

[@BFpro156]

top 1.

[@melvinstarita638]

Kurosawa is the greatest director of all time. He is the only director who could capture and distill the essence of great literary works of Shakespeare and Doestoyevsky. Nobody can even beat him in the grandness of his visual power. And his story-telling envelopes our head and warms our heart. A filmmaker who makes use of great a many poetic devices. I pay homage to one of the greatest artists of all time. He is definitely like Leonardo da Vinci Shakespeare, Doestoyevsky and Bethoveen.

[@Cinetasticc]

It's difficult to not finding resemblance in other movies when you have watched every Kurosawa film

[@kreiflow6209]

I know that you may have heard this many times in the comments, but honestly, this is definitely my favorite channel on KZbin. I live in Venezuela, so getting access to an outside bank account is really hard, but when I´m able to earn enough money to sustain myself comfortably, I'd love to become a patron :)

[@triceratops7084]

Anyone who hasn't seen RED BEARD, it's a humanist Masterwork and one of Kurosawa's Greatest Masterpieces!!

[@ClintBandito]

YES!! I finally got to see it early this year and I was utterly in love with it.

[@jylyhughes5085]

Absolutely!

[@remkoburger6595]

Alright, I'll give it a go

[@macknight2352]

That’s the one big one I haven’t seen, I guess the 3 hour runtime intimidates me, (which is weird because Seven Samurai was my first of his). No matter what, I don’t think Ikiru can be beat for me, but I’ll give red beard a go.

[@triceratops7084]

@@macknight2352 ikiru is my third favorite and i said the same thing but tryst me it can ;)

[@alexwilliamns]

These videos you make, about individual filmmakers has really gotten me interested in more creators. Thank you!

[@scp-2348]

Im rather sad i didnt find out about all these filmmakers when i was younger because theyre not well known in my country. But im glad i discovered them thru the internet and this channel. Keep up the good work!

[@nc8982]

Why not be happy you found them now?

[@empathetic4100]

@@nc8982 what I’m interpreting from this, is that he means that the lessons that these films share would have been greatly useful in the past, If that’s the case then I can relate, there’s a lot of life lessons I wish I knew when I was younger.

[@Raidmasterprod]

IT'S ABOUT BLOODY TIME YOU MADE A VIDEO ON THE DIRECTOR OF MY FAVORITE FILM OF ALL TIME.

[@magnus75damkier]

Why do you make such beautiful videos? I cried watching this. We all feel too lost in the labyrinth of our minds, not realising that we can just turn back and exit it alltogether.

[@yucansuckadee8930]

You are a gift to humanity. The grace and mercy of the undeserved. I can never articulate or show my appreciation of you.

[@VirusL4D]

I just got myself the Seven Samurai Criterion Blu Ray. Can’t wait to watch it! Thanks for the upload

[@SoulShaded]

Fantastic film. You're in for a real treat.

[@Vagabond824]

Kurasawa is quickly becoming my favorite director of all time. I didnt think any of his movies could be better than 7 samurai but I just watched Ikiru and I absolutely loved it. I wish more of his movies were easily attainable.

[@nayannmartinelli300]

Kurosawa's directing still blows my mind, the attention to detail, the polish, the very flow and pacing of the scenes - like poetry in motion.

[@kalash_nikov]

I made a 20min long presentation on Shakespearean stories borrowed by Kurosawa, presented in a different cultural and historical settings. It was part of my high school graduation exam (presentation on freely chosen topic was a compulsory component of final exams 15 years ago in Poland). I absolutely loved working on it and the topic fascinated exam board so much that they were asking me additional questions after the exam part was over. Can't wait to watch this video. I will probably rewatch some of the classics, it's been a while since I've seen any Kurosawa Movie. Oh, also, my dog's name is Akira :)

[@williamc9578]

More than the wonderful and brilliant film director he was, Kurosawa is above all, a quiet, deep-thinking humanist and philosopher. The world is blessed to have Kurosawa as a filmmaker.

[@stirfriedchuck3040]

Alongside your work on Werner Herzog, I think this is your best piece yet.

[@AqulaOculus]

I went ahead and watched my first Kurosawa film, "Ran" and was blown away. It's such a great film and damn... what a sad ending. Thanks for making these videos and putting me on to this director.

[@123chrismas]

I loved this. Brought tears....Another great production. Thank you

[@Jupa]

me too. had to eat lunch alone

[@Ocelot93]

Got emotional at several points during this video. Kurosawas work really is unlike others, really catches humanity I think.

[@coopermiller3216]

this one got me right in the chest. all the themes you touched on are what ive been struggling with for my whole life

[@vaclav_fejt]

Ran took the tragedy of King Lear and made it absolutely epic.

[@rajdixit1605]

A wonderful video about a truly transcendentally talented director! Everyone knows Seven Samurai & Rashomon (as well they should), but I think perhaps his most moving work was Ikiru. Well done, as always - your videos are the best things on KZbin!

[@Nasro703]

Red Beard is my favorite, followed by Stray Dog. His collaborations with Mifune were truly special.

[@HMALDANA]

Beautiful work! Thanks for sharing!

[@AynenMakino]

Thank you for making another one of these, I always very much look forward to them!

[@roquevera9831]

Wonderful. I didn't see that aspect of Kurosawa's films. You brought it so beautifully. It is, indeed, a matter of identity. We believe we are this or that, and build our lives upon this fragile belief, this mask, this net of lies, this persona, this sense of me. We don't trust who we really are, and cannot trust one another because we know they lie to themselves as we do to ourselves. As Gandhi would say: "there are no way to trust, trust is the way".

[@jordanlaramore5430]

Great as always!

[@thejohnny0018]

Loved the video! ❤️

[@eldorados_lost_searcher]

You always find a topic that hits me when and where I need it.

[@aluhhnostril3703]

Have been waiting for this!!

[@terrorcop101]

Man, your movies always make me cry. It's a testament to your choice of videos to share and the analyses you make of them.

[@shroomgoblin2639]

Fantastic video mate!

[@bbrbbr-on2gd]

Great video as always.

[@thisguy8106]

Your videos are always *incredible*

[@owenfitzpatrick4830]

Honestly love these videos. They are so beautifully edited and written, and the way you speak about the subjects of your videos is so informative and the lexicon you employ so interesting. Makes me want to watch every kurosawa movie in one sitting and appreciate it from the point of view you have helped provide. Thank you for all your effort!

[@not_intelligent5733]

Thanks for the content buddy

[@boniprakarsa5090]

Thanks man that was beautiful !

[@ianhoyt3426]

Seeing a video posted from you always makes my day, great work as always

[@maxcooper2850]

This is my favourite video of yours, I can tell how much care and passion went in to this. Also, you captured the beauty of Kurosawa’s cinema. I’ll have to show this to all my friends, thank you

[@martinluescher5009]

What a beautifully made video, thank you for your hard work!!

[@kentohamaoka4063]

Absolutely beautiful work you've done here man.

[@TheHuntsman570]

I ran across this channel just a few days ago, and is by far one of my favorites already. Keep up the great stuff!

[@Guycjohnsen]

that was moving... thank you!

[@cirianar]

Your channel is so good man!

[@j.f.fisher5318]

thank you for your consistently awesome work

[@eduardopimenta280]

I've been long waiting for this.

[@denniskenyon4679]

What a beautiful video. Thank you so much for this

[@Parttimepoet22]

This is really good work my friend

[@anthonycastro3600]

Your videos are always the rarest treat, colorful depth and vision in otherwise grey weeks. Thank you

[@Bratte898]

Such a beautiful and insightful video. Thank you so much.

[@vedantsharma7013]

Great Essay man.. One of the best I've seen online.

[@ClintBandito]

Loved this, really appreciated your not just sticking to obvious and taking some time to also explore and mention some of his extended catalogue.

[@oz542]

You always make beautiful content, thank you

[@texuguito19]

Amzing video. Thank you and congratulations

[@michaeliona8319]

Ohhh, thank you for making this video essay! Having seen so many of your others which I've loved so much, I was hoping one day to see one from you on Kurosawa's films.

[@galichehe]

absolutely outstanding video thank you so much for making this

[@Waterboyofsuperman]

Beautiful tribute! No words!

[@HiSpeedz]

LSOO + Kurosawa = all I could ever hope for

[@Sunomis]

Thank you guys for those wholesome video essays.

[@maximedelpech2238]

Thank you! Makes me want to watch the rest of his movie, through this new lens. Your videos stay a great source of inspiration.

[@hrsantiago]

this is beautiful work, thank you for this!

[@sirrobin]

beautiful synthesis. Love your insights here.

[@kundalinicalling3295]

Thank you for this! 🙏💙 Beautiful work. 😁

[@DelightLovesMovies]

You make the best and most beautiful docs about films on youtube. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@pundrumtranambi5366]

Many thanks for this video! You gave me a lot to think about - personal stuff. Thanks!

[@nickgarcia3319]

I feel like each video I watch of yours motivates and fuels my passion for pursuing filmmaking

[@KrishnachandranU]

Beautifully explained. Brought me to tears ❤️

[@eoris12]

Awesome, as usual. Guaranteed, sensual, artistic, philosophical, and deeply emotive, analysis. Always. Thank you, Tom.

[@ricardoazambuja2978]

once again, a masterpiece. thank you and congratulations!

[@pipetrucciable]

Thank you for doing these videos, it has transformed my life for the better.

[@blondexhottie]

you absolutely crushed it. blew my mind. opened my heart. touched my soul. this is poetry in analysis. analysis in poetry. i cant put words to it. masterful work. i am just getting into kurosawa so this video is spot on for me. thank you so much.

[@boboblacksheep5003]

I love the way you explain such complex themes so easily but never compromise on the quality or richness of them. Another amazing video.❤️

[@juletaurus]

THANK YOU for your wonderful work. These are my therapy through these challenging times.

[@IsraelRelfos]

Thank you for this

[@josephine1465]

I like the calmness of your voice. Nice work!

[@tuberaider]

Thanks for the MUBI trial.

[@yaseminy2052]

Thank you for making this video. How beautifully and eloquently you described Kurosawa is a piece of art of its own.

[@_crispins]

your love of film and story and how it deepens meaningful living is so inspiring and infectious. Thank you so much for what you do 🙏🏽 my Kurosawa box set has been gathering dust for years because it felt too heavy, I’ve been watching mostly ‘easy’ films recently - as you remind me of the reward and the richness of the greats, I’m so excited to dig out that box set and truly enjoy it 🥰

[@slimnooze]

Thank you for this. I really needed it. And thank you, Kurosawa-sama

[@pandaram6]

First time coming across this channel, Im so glad i did

[@francisbone4886]

Truly lovely video: remarkable synthesis of Kurosawa's universe, visually stunning and profound. Many thanks for posting this.

[@theseproblemsmatter1]

Your videos are truly one of a kind. There's no other i know of that's transcendent as yours

[@studiosonjabunes]

A beautiful presentation of the work of Kurosawa. Thank you.

[@shikharamar1647]

Thank you for existing Like Stories of Old. You make my life richer. Keep making these beautiful videos.

[@AardvarkDK]

Thank you for this.

[@johnmaynardable]

This was beautiful.

[@amiza.thedude]

Huge fan of Kurosawa's work and thank you for making this incredible video!

[@kimbureh7338]

thank you for reminding me of Kurosawa's beautiful cinema, exceptional essay

[@naterlandsw2963]

You did a fantastic analysis on this man’s work.

[@pimpampum9968]

You are one of a kind. Keep your great work man👍

[@andreaserotokritou8219]

I know I’m a bit late to comment, but this channel really does connect with me, a lot of questions or feelings that I have, I struggled to find any source that I could connect with but this channel is my favourite thing on KZbin. You really should be proud of your work, and I’ll continue to support it.

[@wesleyscott2719]

This channel helped me throughout my deployment and opened my mind up to the more artistic aspects of cinematography.

[@tavenstrickert9658]

Ever since I started watching your videos they have become a highlight of my day and the themes you discuss I really try to find a way to apply them to my own life to see myself in them and better myself if I can. I've been extremely depressed for a long time even though I find moments of happiness the overarching feeling is still there, yet the way you help me see life and other people truly moves me and makes me long for and work harder for something better. Thank you so much for making all of these I am sure these videos have meant so much to many people especially in this last year of darkness.

[@eliasmiranda2358]

This is the best essay i have watched about kurasawa. It brought me to tears. Thank you very much.

[@al2642]

Thank you, this has been sad and amazing.

[@trocodilo]

You allways have the timing. Congratulations and thank you for your work.

[@pablocalderon2938]

Thank you so much for this. Kurosawa is one of my favorite directors. And this video was fantastic. Every single video you make in ths channel is a tresaure. You always encourage me to see a movie more deeply, not just for entertainment. I learn about life and about me. Some movies are good lessons of life, and Kurosawa was one of the best teachers in my opinion. Thanks. (Sorry for my english...I am learning)