Darkness and Humanity: The Complete Akira Kurosawa

In person: Academy Collection and Preservation Executive Vice President Matt Severson

In person: Kerim Yasar, associate professor of East Asian languages and cultures

“Any description of dreams in mere words cannot capture their expressive power.”

—Akira Kurosawa, 1993  

Inspired by a passage in a novel by Fjodor Dostoevsky “where he talks about dreams and the fact that they express our deepest fears and greatest hopes,” Dreams is a visually sumptuous entry in the latter half of the filmmaker’s career. Divided into eight chapters reflecting dreams from Kurosawa’s childhood through his late seventies, this impressionistic wonder was released, appropriately, the year after the director received an Honorary Oscar from the Academy “for cinematic accomplishments that have inspired, delighted, enriched, and entertained worldwide audiences and influenced filmmakers throughout the world.”

The 50-year career of one of history’s greatest filmmakers concludes with this heartwarming finale from 1993, dedicated to celebrated and respected writer and educator Hyakken Uchida. After Uchida announces his retirement from teaching, his students host an annual gathering, the “Not Yet Banquet” to celebrate his life and career. Composed of a series of poignant episodes, Kurosawa invites us into a world where beauty can be found, despite the inevitable pitfalls of reality, in genuine connection, loyalty, and respect for all living creatures.