Japanese film director Ichikawa dies at 92
02-13-08, 10:47 AM
#1
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Japanese film director Ichikawa dies at 92
Japanese film director Ichikawa dies at 92
TOKYO (AFP) — Film director Kon Ichikawa, who took the lead in Japan's post-war cinema industry, died of pneumonia at a Tokyo hospital. He was 92.
"Director Ichikawa was hospitalised on January 24 after complaining about feeling of smothering, but passed away early today, seen by his family," film company Toho said in a statement.
After debuting as a film director in 1948, Ichikawa won the International Critics Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his documentary about the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games titled "Tokyo Olympiad," Kyodo News said.
He was also known for such films as "The Burmese Harp" about a Japanese soldier who stays in Burma as a monk after World War II to comfort the spirits of soldiers who had died.
Ichikawa also received an award for cultural merit from the Japanese government in 1994 and received a lifetime achievement award at the Montreal World Film Festival in 2001, Kyodo said.
TOKYO (AFP) — Film director Kon Ichikawa, who took the lead in Japan's post-war cinema industry, died of pneumonia at a Tokyo hospital. He was 92.
"Director Ichikawa was hospitalised on January 24 after complaining about feeling of smothering, but passed away early today, seen by his family," film company Toho said in a statement.
After debuting as a film director in 1948, Ichikawa won the International Critics Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his documentary about the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games titled "Tokyo Olympiad," Kyodo News said.
He was also known for such films as "The Burmese Harp" about a Japanese soldier who stays in Burma as a monk after World War II to comfort the spirits of soldiers who had died.
Ichikawa also received an award for cultural merit from the Japanese government in 1994 and received a lifetime achievement award at the Montreal World Film Festival in 2001, Kyodo said.
02-13-08, 11:58 AM
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RIP, one of the world's greats.
His story is interesting. Began as an animator, his wife wrote most of their scripts, and he was an innovator when it came to film editing. He was a great inspiration to Shunji Iwai, director of "All About Lily Chou-Chou," and Iwai's most recent film is a personal documentary about Ichikawa, which was released on DVD last year with a 2nd disc of a long talk between the two.
His story is interesting. Began as an animator, his wife wrote most of their scripts, and he was an innovator when it came to film editing. He was a great inspiration to Shunji Iwai, director of "All About Lily Chou-Chou," and Iwai's most recent film is a personal documentary about Ichikawa, which was released on DVD last year with a 2nd disc of a long talk between the two.
02-13-08, 12:01 PM
#4
What a coincidence .. I started 'The Burmese Harp' about 2 weeks ago and still need to finish it. What a horrible way of a reminder to complete the film.
Brillian film maker. He will be missed. RIP Ichikawa ....
Brillian film maker. He will be missed. RIP Ichikawa ....
02-13-08, 09:44 PM
#5
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Dora Heita is a darned entertaining samurai movie.
Ichikawa co-wrote it with Akira Kurosawa, Keisuke Kinoshita, and Masaki Kobayashi when they started their own production company. Unfortunately, the commercial failure of Kurosawa's Dodesukaden put an end to the company and the script, while finished, went unfilmed for almost 30 years before the only surviving partner, Ichikawa, finally got the backing to make it happen.
He directed it himself and made a fine movie.
Even if he had done nothing else in his career, bringing that script back to life after that long would have earned him my respect and admiration.
Ichikawa co-wrote it with Akira Kurosawa, Keisuke Kinoshita, and Masaki Kobayashi when they started their own production company. Unfortunately, the commercial failure of Kurosawa's Dodesukaden put an end to the company and the script, while finished, went unfilmed for almost 30 years before the only surviving partner, Ichikawa, finally got the backing to make it happen.
He directed it himself and made a fine movie.
Even if he had done nothing else in his career, bringing that script back to life after that long would have earned him my respect and admiration.
02-13-08, 10:14 PM
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"Fires on the Plane" (the only film of his I've seen) is a magnificent movie, and one obviously made by a great talent.
I think I'll finally watch "The Burmese Harp" now.
I think I'll finally watch "The Burmese Harp" now.
