r/TrueFilm • u/Alcatrazepam • 6d ago

What are all of Kurosawa’s innovations?

*Akira, to be clear, not Kyoshi who I also love deeply (whom?)

For example , I understand he is credited with the invention of the “buddy cop” film with “Stray Dog.” Many people also credit him with the invention of the “action film” with Seven Samurai. Perhaps the most famous and undisputed example is the story structure used in Rashomon (and maybe the most overtly referenced in popular culture). The man was clearly a genius and is still ahead of his time so I feel there must be other examples of innovations. Do any come to mind for you? Which are your favorites?

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u/Necessary_Monsters 6d ago

In terms of technique, two things he at least popularized were wipes to transition between scenes and using a series of jump cuts where another filmmaker would use a track in or track out.

Was he the very first filmmaker to ever use these techniques? I'm not sure, but they became visual signatures for him.

Many people also credit him with the invention of the “action film” with Seven Samurai.

Honestly, I'd push back against this. I'm really not sure you could say that Seven Samurai is definitely more of an action movie than, say, any number of pre-1954 Hollywood war or western movies. I've seen the argument that The Great Train Robbery (1903) represents the beginning of action cinema.

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u/bgaesop 6d ago

Yeah that seems completely insane. Almost all serials were action films.