Renowned Japanese filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa received an award for his contributions to Asian cinema at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in South Korea. Festival organizers gave Kurosawa the prize for Asian Filmmaker of the Year. This award recognizes the impact Kurosawa has made through his movies and his work growing the Asian film industry.
The 69-year-old director shared insights from his long career during a class at the festival. Kurosawa discussed the creative process behind his films and recent projects. He also talked about how Japanese cinema has evolved over time. Kurosawa’s psychological thriller “Cloud” shows his skill at adapting classic storylines to modern issues. The film explores how ordinary people can turn to violence in extreme situations, similar to American action movies from the 1970s.
“‘Cloud’ follows a man named Yoshii who gets caught up in a series of troubling events after problems arise from his online business,” Kurosawa explained. “I wanted to make a story about everyday people fiercely living their lives who are then pushed to their limits in a life or death situation.” The movie examines how online interactions can amplify conflicts and frustrations, sometimes leading to real violence.
Kurosawa praised rising actor Masaki Suda’s nuanced portrayal of Yoshii. “There was little background given for the character in the original script,” Kurosawa said. “But Masaki instantly understood what I wanted to show, and talking to him helped me understand the character even more fully.”
In addition to “Cloud,” Kurosawa directed the short film “Chime” and oversaw a French remake of his 1998 thriller “Serpent’s Path.” He wanted the remake to retain the story but make it his own vision rather than the previous screenwriter’s. Even with his busy schedule, Kurosawa says he misses the freedom of Japan’s former direct-to-video system where he could make multiple low-budget movies each year with few restrictions.
The director also reflected on changes in Japanese society over the past two decades. While his early techno-horror film “Pulse” portrayed the internet as mysterious, “Cloud” shows how ubiquitous technology now amplifies human behaviors both good and bad. Kurosawa was heartened to see so many young people passionate about film at BIFF and hoping to make their own movies in the future.
