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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which on-set worker was moved to tears while filming the final scene of The Quiet Duel?

2. In An Alleyway in the Floating World, how did the little girl respond to Akira's rescuing her?

3. How did film-goers know that a particular night shot in Sugata Sanshiro was shot during the day?

4. Who became terrified when they happened upon the shoot of Sugata Sanshiro, Part II?

5. What happened to Akira and his wife's first house?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did an army major and Akira Kurosawa come to an agreement regarding cutting a scene from one of his films?

2. What was the talent like at the PCL?

3. Why does Kurosawa think his writing process was flawed in Scandal?

4. How is Akira Kurosawa angered by the state of Japan's film industry?

5. How did Akira find his brother in An Alleyway in the Floating World?

6. What was Akira's editing experience under Yanamoto?

7. How did Mifune Toshiro and Kurosawa begin work together?

8. Why was the final fight of Sugata Sanshiro a challenge for Kurosawa?

9. What demands did Kurosawa make of his actresses in The Most Beautiful?

10. What was Kurosawa trying to evoke, visually, with Rashomon?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about the relationship between Uekusa and Akira Kurosawa in the book. To what extent does Akira represent the intellect and Uekusa the heart? What romantic and foolhardy exploits does Uekusa undertake at a young age? Does he succeed in any of them? How does Akira deal with girls and danger at this same age? What professional relationship develops between these two men later?

Essay Topic 2

Akira Kurosawa, almost as soon as he begins directing features, proves that he is a demanding and visionary director. He takes risks and makes bold choices with his first features. Write an essay about some of these features. What is his reason for directing each? What big and difficult does he choose in terms of the shoot? What do the cast and crew think of these decisions? What sort of conflict develops? Do these risks pay off in the long run?

Part 1) Sugata Sanshiro

Part 2) The Most Beautiful

Part 3) Drunk Angel

Essay Topic 3

Akira Kurosawa's SOMETHING LIKE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY deals with the author's transition from insecure child to confident - even egotistical - adult. Write an essay about three defining and transforming moments in this transition:

Part 1) Akira is a crybaby and a weakling when he enters Mr. Tachikawa's class. What talents and opportunities does Mr. Tachikawa's instruction open up to him? How does Mr. Tachikawa empower both Akira and Uekusa? How does the teacher remain a fixture in the author's life for decades following?

Part 2) What are Akira's faults and weaknesses when Mr. Iwamatsu becomes his teacher? How does Mr. Iwamatsu foster his desire to learn in the midst of a rebellious phase? How does the author's skills improve over the course of his time with this teacher?

Part 3) How does Kajiro Yamamoto prove pivotal to the author's development as an artist? What role does Akira play on Kajiro Yamamoto's sets? Discuss the film skills that Akira develops under this director and how Yamamoto continues to play a role in his life.

(see the answer keys)

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