Fwd: AKIRA KUROSAWA AND POST W.W.II CINEMA OF JAPAN

[Alexander Soifer]

Edward Fowler wrote:

> I can't help wondering why you would want information re: Kurosawa
> with a focus on the 1990s, which is to say, the very end of his long
> career, which began in the early 1940s.  I, for one, believe that
> some of his very best work was done BEFORE _Rashomon_ (1950).  The
> significance of his early work is suggested by Stephen Prince in
> _The Warrior's Camera_, and explicated even more trenchantly by
> Mitsuhiro Yoshimoto in his forthcoming study of Kurosawa (which
> should be out by the time you teach your course).

Dear Professor Fowler:

Thank you for your reply. I am pleased to inform you that you
misunderstood me :-). Indeed, I wrote as folllows:

> I am at preliminary stages, developing the course, and would appreciate

> your input regarding inclusion of the films that will be featured,

> especially  films of the 1990s.

This question had nothing to do with Kurosawa (whose works of the 90s
I know). My course will be equally divided between Kurosawa (and I will
include his early works to be sure), and other directors of  Japanese
cinema.
And so I asked (AND STILL DO!) for names of young and promising
directors of the 90s and titles of their best works. Sources for
purchasing
these works would be much appreciated as well.

I admire (and own in video formats) works of Kurosawa, Ozu, Mizoguchi,
Teshigahara, Imamura, Oshima. BUT: I have not before concentrated
on Japanese cinema per se. I am familiar with books by David Richie,
yet I need your help here too:

> >  I truly need your input on text(s) for the course. I would like
> > the text to not only address the cinema itself, but also discuss how
> > Japanese cinema stems from, reflects upon and in turn creates national
> > culture.

Surely, your list can help much better than H-Film -- and I hope it
will.
I thank you for bringing my questions to the attention of KineJapan.

I have just subscribed to KineJapan.

    Best wishes,

            Alexander Soifer