“Man is a genius when he dreams ” The Mythology, Style, and Films of John Ford & Akira Kurosawa

Part 1

“‘Oh for shame, how the mortals put the blame on us gods, for they say evils come from us, but it is they, rather, who by their own recklessness win sorrow beyond what is given…….

-Zeus, from Homer’s Odyssey

“Art is a lie that Tells the Truth.”

-Pablo Picasso

Tales of human perseverance, loneliness, courage, persecution, and strength have been handed down for centuries from one storyteller to the next, carrying on a sacred tradition that is as old as time itself. These tales have framed the fabric of the human psyche and our culture has come to reflect them. John Ford and Akira Kurosawa, two directors from distinctly different cultural backgrounds embody this fable telling in its most profound contemporary manifestations.

John Ford, the great American filmmaker of the mid-twentieth century was a monumental influence on the young Akira Kurosawa. Both men would shape modern cinema in ways that neither of them could fathom, Kurosawa borrowing many of the themes and tones of Ford’s films. Kurosawa in turn would directly inspire modern filmmakers such as George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola. This artistic connection and mutual admiration between these giants of film produced some of the greatest cinematic moments in film history. The themes explored by these two poets of the human condition are not new. Sacrifice, death, courage under extreme duress, and the constant struggle between man and the environment are central to the mythology Ford and Kurosawa helped to explore. The lyrical and contextual images of their films are strikingly similar in prose and style, both preferring simplicity in shot selection and dialogue. Both saw the natural setting of their films as intricate to the storyline, as an active participant in the film’s narrative. The imagery of characters dwarfed by Neolithic rock formations or riders in shadow approaching along a ridge descending into a deep ravine do not simply imply movement to a destination, for Ford and Kurosawa these panoramic shots say more about the people and storyline of their films than any dialogue ever could.

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