Yasuzo Masumura, a Maverick of Japanese Cinema Rediscovered w/ Joseph Fahim

Listen to our podcast conversation with programmer Joseph Fahim about a retrospective on the works of Yasuzo Masumura from the 2023 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

TFV‘s Matt Micucci talks with Joseph Fahim, curator of a retrospective on the works of Japanese filmmaker Yasuzo Masumura at the 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF). Known for his rebellious spirit and promotion of individualism, Masumura’s films challenged societal norms and left an indelible mark on the cinematic landscape.

Active since the late 1950s, Masumura was a true powerhouse, creating films that defy simple categorization. His stories, rooted in classic narrative structures, encompass a wide range of emotions – from anger to clarity, from pulp to sophistication. They are broad yet controlled, nihilistic yet moralistic. However, despite his brilliance, Masumura’s close affiliation with the studio system led to his marginalization by critics and curators for nearly six decades.

As we approach the 100th anniversary of Masumura’s birth, KVIFF and Fahim took the lead in celebrating this extraordinary filmmaker and invited us all to rediscover his remarkable body of work.