Akira Kurosawa
Most influential Asian filmmaker
Most quoted
"The characters in my films try to live honestly and make the most of the lives they’ve been given. I believe you must live honestly and develop your abilities to the full. People who do this are the real heroes."
— from Interview/Statement
"With a good script, a good director can produce a masterpiece. With the same script, a mediocre director can produce a passable film. But with a bad script even a good director can't possibly make a good film."
— from Interview/Statement
"The most important thing is to have a good script. If you have a good script, you can make a good film even with bad actors. But if you have a bad script, you can't make a good film even with good actors."
— from Interview
All quotes by Akira Kurosawa (408)
The director's job is to tell a story.
I have always tried to make films that are both beautiful and meaningful.
The most important thing is to be yourself.
I believe that the best films are those that are made with integrity.
The cinema is a universal language.
I have always tried to make films that are both entertaining and enlightening.
The most important thing is to never give up.
I believe that the best films are those that are made with a sense of wonder.
The director's job is to create a world that the audience can believe in.
I have always tried to make films that are both personal and universal.
The most important thing is to be open to new ideas.
I believe that the best films are those that are made with a sense of humor.
I like to make films that are like a good meal. You eat it, and you feel satisfied, but you don't feel stuffed.
If you want to be a director, you must first be a good writer. If you can't write, you can't direct.
The most important thing is to have a good script. If you have a good script, you can make a good film even with bad actors. But if you have a bad script, you can't make a good film even with good actors.
A true artist is someone who can create something beautiful out of nothing.
The camera is a pen. The film is a book. The director is a writer.
I'm not interested in making films that are just entertainment. I want to make films that make people think.
The best way to learn about filmmaking is to watch films. Watch good films, watch bad films, watch all kinds of films.
The world is full of interesting stories. You just have to find them.
Contemporaries of Akira Kurosawa
Other Film & Theaters born within 50 years of Akira Kurosawa (1910–1998).