The director Wes Anderson calls “a master”
Possessing a truly unique visual style and an unrivalled contemporary prowess for storytelling, only a fool would argue that Wes Anderson has not proven himself to be a master director throughout his remarkable career. His movies are genuine feasts for the eyes with all their carefully curated colour palettes and attention to symmetrical detail.
Anderson’s films are not merely superficial works of art, though, for beneath the gorgeous visuals lie deep narratives of true emotional weight. The charm and emotion that bubbles beneath the surface of the likes of The Grand Budapest Hotel and Moonrise Kingdom help to create a filmography of uniqueness and have made Anderson one of American cinema’s most respected names.
But like any true auteur of their medium, Anderson is not without his influence, nor those that he admires. When it comes to his favourite filmmakers, Anderson has many. However, he once gave the highest praise to the Japanese cinema icon Akira Kurosawa and explained that he’d once inspired one of his most particular movies.
When introducing a program of Kurosawa’s movies at the New York City Metrograph Theater around the time Isle of Dogs was released, Anderson noted, “To people who love movies, Japan immediately conjures up the work of Akira Kurosawa: a cinematic sensei to generations of directors. If Isle of Dogs permits me an opportunity to present a few of the master’s masterpieces in 35mm, I am grateful for it.”
If Anderson is well thought of as a director, then Akira Kurosawa ought to be thought of as a god of cinema. The maestro and genius of filmmaking crafted a legacy for himself as one of Asian film’s all-time greats and left an eternal mark on the ever-changing profession of the director. Possessing an eye for detail and mastering the use of natural elements, it’s clear to see why Anderson holds such admiration for his Japanese predecessor.
With several masterpieces to his name, including Seven Samurai, Rashomon and Ikiru, Kurosawa proved he was capable of providing versatile narratives. His work could delve deep into historical and contemporary Japan with samurai epics, morality tales and psychological dramas, creating rich narratives that captivated audiences from across the world.
Anderson had also opened up on how his Isle of Dogs movie held some serious Kurosawa influences, despite it being another stop-motion animation film in line with his previous effort, Fantastic Mr. Fox. The director noted, “The new film is less influenced by stop-motion movies than it is by Akira Kurosawa.”
Check out the trailer for Isle of Dogs below to see the Kurosawan influence.
