100 Years of Kurosawa

2010 marks more than just a new decade it’s also the centenary of famed director Akira Kurosawa. New York City’s Film Forum is celebrating with a four-week Kurosawa film festival, featuring 29 films — ranging from the 1950s classics Rashomon and Seven Samurai to the 1990 surrealist masterpiece Dreams. The series starts this Wednesday, January 6, and runs through February 4, so you have plenty of time to get schooled in all things Kurosawa before the big 100-year anniversary rolls around on March 23. Until then, happy viewing.
 

 
If you can’t make it to New York–and even if you can–be sure to pick up AK 100: 25 Films by Akira Kurosawa for a crash course. The Criterion Collection’s definitive Kurosawa box set includes four rare films never before released on DVD. And to discover Japan through film check out the Film+Travel series from Museyon Guides.
 
Toshiro Mifune in Akira Kurosawa’s THRONE OF BLOOD (1957) courtesy Janus Films. Playing 1/15.