FILM 227 Japanese Film

The course briefly discusses early Japanese cinema, and then places considerable emphasis on two influential directors who gained international attention in the post-World War II years: Yasujiro Ozu, who is considered the most Japanese of Japanese film directors, and Akira Kurosawa, who is considered the most western of Japanese film directors. This sets the stage for much of what the course goes on to consider, namely, how Japanese films to varying degrees reflect that nation’s distinct identity while also reflecting techniques and subjects that to some extent dovetail with trends in world cinema. The mostly contemporary feature films to be viewed include genres that are distinctively Japanese, including samurai and animation. All films are in Japanese with English subtitles.

Credits

3

Hours Weekly

3