Monday, 16 January 2012

AKIRA KUROSAWA'S DREAMS




AKIRA KUROSAWA'S DREAMS

Akira Kurosawa is a true celluloid titan. Often regarded as one of the greatest and most influential filmmakers to have lived, revered by Scorsese, Bergman and Coppola, his prolific career spanned 57 years and 30 films, earning him a plethora of awards and international acclaim as a director, producer, screenwriter and editor.

As part of their ongoing Kurosawa retrospective, on October 24 and 25 Kino Arsenal will screen his profoundly personal film, Dreams (Yume). Made in the twilight of his life and career, Dreams treads the line between film and art and is an aesthetic experience not to be missed.

A collection of eight separate vignettes, the film explores the dreams and nightmares that Kurosawa had throughout his life. From the post-apocalyptic ‘Weeping Demon’ to the utopian ‘Village of the Watermills’, his dreams are often presented in a parable format and delve deeply into Japanese legends and traditions whilst simultaneously confronting universal questions relating to environment, mortality and identity.

With little dialogue, a strong cultural context and often inconclusive narratives, Dreams is an antidote to Hollywood. The films power lies in its dazzling visuals which communicate more about Kurosawa’s tales than his words ever could. From start to finish, the vibrant, rainbow-hued imagery that fills the screen of this cinematographic triumph will captivate any imagination.

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