Yasuzo Masumura
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
ese film director
.
Masumura was born in Kōfu
on Honshū
. After dropping out of a law course at the University of Tokyo
he worked as an assistant director at the Daiei studio, later returning to university to study philosophy; he graduated in 1949. He then won a scholarship allowing him to study film in Italy at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia
under Michelangelo Antonioni
, Federico Fellini
and Luchino Visconti
.
Masumura returned to Japan in 1953 and from 1955 worked as a second-unit director on films directed by Kenji Mizoguchi
and Kon Ichikawa
, before directing his own first film, Kisses, in 1957. Over the next three decades he directed around 60 films in a variety of genres. His work is noted for his dark satire and fluid style. Notable films include Red Angel, Black Test Car, Giants and Toys
, Blind Beast and Hoodlum Soldier.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
.
Masumura was born in Kōfu
Kofu, Yamanashi
is the capital city of Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan.As of May 1, 2011, the city had a estimate population of 197,540, with 85,794 households. The total area is 212.41 km².-History:Kōfu's name means "capital of Kai Province"...
on Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
. After dropping out of a law course at the University of Tokyo
University of Tokyo
, abbreviated as , is a major research university located in Tokyo, Japan. The University has 10 faculties with a total of around 30,000 students, 2,100 of whom are foreign. Its five campuses are in Hongō, Komaba, Kashiwa, Shirokane and Nakano. It is considered to be the most prestigious university...
he worked as an assistant director at the Daiei studio, later returning to university to study philosophy; he graduated in 1949. He then won a scholarship allowing him to study film in Italy at the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia
Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia
The Centro sperimentale di cinematografia was established in 1935 in Italy and aims to promote the art and technique of cinematography and film....
under Michelangelo Antonioni
Michelangelo Antonioni
Michelangelo Antonioni, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian modernist film director, screenwriter, editor and short story writer.- Personal life :...
, Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI , was an Italian film director and scriptwriter. Known for a distinct style that blends fantasy and baroque images, he is considered one of the most influential and widely revered filmmakers of the 20th century...
and Luchino Visconti
Luchino Visconti
Luchino Visconti di Modrone, Count of Lonate Pozzolo was an Italian theatre, opera and cinema director, as well as a screenwriter. He is best known for his films The Leopard and Death in Venice .-Life:...
.
Masumura returned to Japan in 1953 and from 1955 worked as a second-unit director on films directed by Kenji Mizoguchi
Kenji Mizoguchi
Kenji Mizoguchi was a Japanese film director and screenwriter. His film Ugetsu won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and appeared in the Sight & Sound Critics' Top Ten Poll in 1962 and 1972. Mizoguchi is renowned for his mastery of the long take and mise-en-scène...
and Kon Ichikawa
Kon Ichikawa
was a Japanese film director.-Early life and career:Ichikawa was born in Ise, Mie Prefecture. In the 1930s Ichikawa attended a technical school in Osaka. Upon graduation, in 1933, he found a job with a local rental film studio, J.O. Studio, in their animation department...
, before directing his own first film, Kisses, in 1957. Over the next three decades he directed around 60 films in a variety of genres. His work is noted for his dark satire and fluid style. Notable films include Red Angel, Black Test Car, Giants and Toys
Giants and Toys
is a 1958 comedy film directed by Yasuzo Masumura and starring Hiroshi Kawaguchi. It portrays the increasingly frenzied efforts of the World candy company to compete with the rival Giant and Apollo companies over caramel sales...
, Blind Beast and Hoodlum Soldier.
Select Filmography
- Kisses (1957)
- Giants and ToysGiants and Toysis a 1958 comedy film directed by Yasuzo Masumura and starring Hiroshi Kawaguchi. It portrays the increasingly frenzied efforts of the World candy company to compete with the rival Giant and Apollo companies over caramel sales...
(1958) - JokyoJokyo (film)is a 1960 Japanese drama film directed by Kōzaburō Yoshimura, Kon Ichikawa and Yasuzo Masumura. It was entered into the 10th Berlin International Film Festival.-Plot:...
(1960) - Afraid to DieAfraid to Dieis a 1960 yakuza film directed by Yasuzo Masumura and starring Yukio Mishima.-Cast:* Yukio Mishima - Takeo Asahina* Ayako Wakao - Yoshie Koizumi* Keizo Kawasaki - Shoichi Koizumi* Eiji Funakoshi - Susumu Aikawa* Takashi Shimura - Gohei Hirayama...
(Karakkaze yarō) (1960) - A False StudentA False StudentA False Student is a 1960 drama film directed by Yasuzo Masumura and starring Ayako Wakao.-Cast:* Ayako Wakao - Mutsuko* Jerry Fujio - Hikoichi* Jun Fujimaki - Yasuo, Kida* Eiji Funakoshi - Kyosuke...
(1960) - The Black Test Car (1962)
- ManjiManji (film)卍 is the title of several Japanese films based on the Japanese novel Quicksand written by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki in 1928.The theme is homosexuality between women. It was filmed in 1964, 1983, 1998 and 2006 in Japan.-Story:...
(1964) - The Hoodlum SoldierThe Hoodlum SoldierHeitai Yakuza or The Hoodlum Soldier is a Japanese film directed by Yasuzo Masumura. The Hoodlum Soldier was the first of a series of eight films that followed the principal character, Kisaburo Omiya , though the subsequent installments have been criticized for lacking the thematic depth of this film...
(1965) - Red Angel (1966)
- IrezumiIrezumiIrezumi is a Japanese word that refers to the insertion of ink under the skin to leave a permanent, usually decorative mark; a form of tattooing....
(1966) - The Wife of Seishū Hanaoka (Hanaoka Seishū no tsuma) (1967)
- Blind Beast (1969)
- Hanzo the Razor:The Snare (1973)
- Lullaby of the EarthLullaby of the Earthis a 1976 Japanese film directed by Yasuzo Masumura.-Awards and nominations:19th Blue Ribbon Awards* Won: Best Film* Won: Best Newcomer - Mieko Harada-References:...
(1976)
External links
- Tales of Ordinary Madness: Films by Yasuzo Masumura by Jonathan Rosenbaum
- The Cruel Beauty of Masumura Yasuzo at the Independent Cinema Office