Dir: Akira Kurosawa

DoP: Takeo Itô

Year: 1945

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Things To Consider

• Already when comparing with the first installment we can see a growth in Kurosawa’s approach, a greater technical knowledge and a more assured hand, resulting in a more dynamic looking film.
• There’s far more attention paid to expressive and interesting lighting. I love the arc of light that blasts in through the roof of the training area, and some of the close ups have a real elegance, Kurosawa is realising how much he can do with such little light.
• The final showdown looks great, shooting the characters at a distance and in silhouette against the snow is a choice that we dont really see being made tyhese days but it really ups the tension.

Further Research

• Kurosawa, Martial Arts
• Eclipse Series 23: The First Films of Akira Kurosawa By Stephen Prince