| Akira Kurosawa came into his own as a filmmaker directly
following World War II, delving into the state of his devastated nation
with a series of pensive, topical dramas. Amid Japan’s economic collapse
and U.S. occupation, Kurosawa managed to find humor and redemption
existing alongside despair and anxiety. In these five early films,
which range from political epic to Capraesque whimsy to courtroom
potboiler, Kurosawa revealed the artistic range and social acuity
that would mark his career and make him the most popular Japanese
director in the world. |