Japanese Cinema: Texts and Contexts Book

A collection of 26 articles on key films of Japanese cinema, from the silent era to the present day. All the major directors of Japanese cinema will be covered, from Ozu and Kurosawa to contemporary directors like Kitano and Itami. Films discussed include classics like "Seven Samurai" and "In the Realm of the Senses" as well as cult favorites such as "Godzilla" and more recent successes such as "Hana-Bi", "Tampopo" and "Spirited Away". Each chapter will discuss a film in relation to particular aesthetic, inductrial or critical issues and will end with a guide to further reading and a complete filmography for the relevant director. The volume will feature a comprehensive introduction to Japanese cinema history and Japanese culture and society by the editors. All of the films examined are all available on DVD and video. This book follows the same format as our successful supplementary French Film: Texts and Contexts, which we published in a second edition in 1999.Read More