Akira Kurosawa Quotes, Book Quotes, Writing Quotes

Of all my films, people wrote to me most about this one... ...I had wanted to make The Idiot long before Rashomon. Since I was little I've liked Russian literature, but I find that I like Dostoevsky the best and had long thought that this book would make a wonderful film. He is still my favourite author, and he is the one - I still think - who writes most honestly about human existence.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Book Quotes , Writing Quotes

I like silent pictures and I always have ... I wanted to restore some of this beauty. I thought of it, I remember in this way: one of techniques of modern art is simplification, and that I must therefore simplify this film.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Art Quotes , Technique Quotes

To be an artist means never to avert one's eyes.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Art Quotes , Mean Quotes

I suppose all of my films have a common theme. If I think about it, though, the only theme I can think of is really a question: Why can’t people be happier together?

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Thinking Quotes , People Quotes

During the shooting of a scene the director’s eye has to catch even the minutest detail. But this does not mean glaring concentratedly at the set. While the cameras are rolling, I rarely look directly at the actors, but focus my gaze somewhere else. By doing this I sense instantly when something isn’t right. Watching something does not mean fixing your gaze on it, but being aware of it in a natural way. I believe this is what the medieval Noh playwright and theorist Zeami meant by ‘watching with a detached gaze.’

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Believe Quotes , Mean Quotes

Movie directors, or should I say people who create things, are very greedy and they can never be satisfied... That's why they can keep on working. I've been able to work for so long because I think next time, I'll make something good.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Movie Quotes , Thinking Quotes

If you look at everything straight on, there is nothing to be afraid of.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Looks Quotes

Human beings share the same common problems. A film can only be understood if it depicts these properly.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Film Directing Quotes , Common Quotes

Human beings are unable to be honest with themselves about themselves. They cannot talk about themselves without embellishing.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Honest Quotes , Being Honest Quotes

People today have forgotten they're really just a part of nature. Yet, they destroy the nature on which our lives depend. They always think they can make something better... They don't know it, but they're losing nature. They don't see that they're going to perish. The most important things for human beings are clean air and clean water.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Thinking Quotes , Air Quotes

The role of the artist is to not look away.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Artist Quotes , Roles Quotes

To be an artist means to search, to find and look at these realities. To be an artist means to never look away.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Mean Quotes , Artist Quotes

The films an audience really enjoys are the ones that were enjoyable in the making. Yet pleasure in the work can’t be achieved unless you know you have put all of your strength into it and have done your best to make it come alive. A film made in this spirit reveals the hearts of the crew.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Heart Quotes , Done Quotes

If you want to be a great director, be a great screenwriter.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Directors Quotes , Want Quotes

I can't afford to hate anyone. I don't have that kind of time.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Hate Quotes , Kind Quotes

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.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Real Quotes , Believe Quotes

Something that you should take particular notice of is the fact that the best scripts have very few explanatory passages. Adding explanation to the descriptive passages of a screenplay is the most dangerous trap you can fall into. It’s easy to explain the psychological state of a character at a particular moment, but it’s very difficult to describe it through the delicate nuances of action and dialogue. Yet it is not impossible.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Believe Quotes , Fall Quotes

but ignorance is a kind of insanity in the human animal. People who delight in torturing defenseless children or tiny creatures are in reality insane. The terrible thing is that people who are madmen in private may wear a totally bland and innocent expression in public.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Children Quotes , Ignorance Quotes

I am not a special person, I am not especially strong; I am not especially gifted. I simply do not like to show my weakness, and I hate to lose, so I am a person who tries hard. That's all there is to me.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Strong Quotes , Hate Quotes

Page 61: No matter where I go in the world, although I can't speak any foreign language, I don't feel out of place. I think of earth as my home. If everyone thought this way, people might notice just how foolish international friction is and the would be put an end to it.

4 years ago

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Tags : Akira Kurosawa Quotes , Home Quotes , Thinking Quotes