Akira Kurosawa: A Retrospective

October 17–December 3

One of the most influential filmmakers in the world, Akira Kurosawa wrote and directed some 30 feature films, all distinguished by an uncommon blend of artistic invention and significant entertainment value. Kurosawa enjoyed a nearly 50-year career in movies that remains unsurpassed in its sustained quality and achievement — perhaps the greatest win streak a filmmaker has ever had. This year, seven of his magnificent films — STRAY DOG (1949), IKIRU, THRONE OF BLOOD, YOJIMBO, THE HIDDEN FORTRESS, SANJURO and HIGH AND LOW — have been restored in glorious 4K and are presented in this series alongside a new 2K restoration of RED BEARD, a 2K restoration of RASHOMON and last year’s 4K restoration of SEVEN SAMURAI. In the words of fellow influential filmmaker Martin Scorsese, “The term ‘giant’ is used too often to describe artists. But in the case of Akira Kurosawa, we have one of the rare instances where the term fits. His films had an awe-inspiring power, physical and graphic. His indelible compositions seemed to have been burned into the screen. He defined a sense of possibility in movies.”