Two of the most influential directors of Asian cinema are Kurosawa Akira and Ozu Yasujiro.
Kurosawa engaged with, and adapted popular high range culture texts. For example the American Western (Yojimbo), and even Shakespeare (Throne of Blood [similar to Macbeth] & Run).
The Classic Tokyo Story (1953) by Ozu Yasujiro, is interesting.
By the 1950s-60s, American audiences tired of same-old-Hollywood movies, and 'turned to foreign film for intellectual content and maturity of themes.' Asian films used new cinematographic techniques and methods of storytelling, such as ellipsis. This means that certain shots or scenes of a movie are omitted altogether, creating a slightly-less-than-logical-structure. It does mean, however, that attention and focus can be...refocused on more important parts of the story. This method is still used today.
GODZILLA was the first major Asian cinema hit in the 1950s (not to be confused with the 1998 remake). To date, over 16 re-makes have been made, and the legacy of the 'radioactive-monster-story' lives on. The films featured relatively simple political messages, concerning things like pollution and nuclear disarmament.
After WWII, Japan underwent reform on behalf of America. During the American occupation between 1945-52, the US had a massive influence, culturally and politically. Even after the semi-reforms post-world war two, when things had settled, America persisted in meddling with Japanese culture and way of life. The first H-bomb tests were carried out in the late 1950s, which unintentionally affected the Japanese.
What followed was a new breed of Japanese cinema, bristling with subtle political messages. Godzilla Vs. Mothra (1964) presented as Mothra as the self, as central to Japanese culture, and Godzilla as the 'other', a threat to the current status of the nation.
Kurosawa engaged with, and adapted popular high range culture texts. For example the American Western (Yojimbo), and even Shakespeare (Throne of Blood [similar to Macbeth] & Run).
The Classic Tokyo Story (1953) by Ozu Yasujiro, is interesting.
By the 1950s-60s, American audiences tired of same-old-Hollywood movies, and 'turned to foreign film for intellectual content and maturity of themes.' Asian films used new cinematographic techniques and methods of storytelling, such as ellipsis. This means that certain shots or scenes of a movie are omitted altogether, creating a slightly-less-than-logical-structure. It does mean, however, that attention and focus can be...refocused on more important parts of the story. This method is still used today.
GODZILLA was the first major Asian cinema hit in the 1950s (not to be confused with the 1998 remake). To date, over 16 re-makes have been made, and the legacy of the 'radioactive-monster-story' lives on. The films featured relatively simple political messages, concerning things like pollution and nuclear disarmament.After WWII, Japan underwent reform on behalf of America. During the American occupation between 1945-52, the US had a massive influence, culturally and politically. Even after the semi-reforms post-world war two, when things had settled, America persisted in meddling with Japanese culture and way of life. The first H-bomb tests were carried out in the late 1950s, which unintentionally affected the Japanese.
What followed was a new breed of Japanese cinema, bristling with subtle political messages. Godzilla Vs. Mothra (1964) presented as Mothra as the self, as central to Japanese culture, and Godzilla as the 'other', a threat to the current status of the nation.
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