A.K.

Synopsis: Documentary, directed by Chris Marker, which records his days on location with Akira Kurosawa during the filming of RAN. Narrated by Robert Kramer, the film is divided into segments such as battles’, ‘Patience’, ‘Rain’, ‘Time’ and ‘Fog’. Marker looks at the logistics of filming spectacular battle sequences on the slopes of Mount Fuji, and also at the work of the production team, extras and stars.
Language: French (Standard)
Country: France; Japan
Medium: Film
Technical information: Colour / Sound
Year of release: 1985
Transmission details: 26 Oct 1990 at 23:55 (Channel: BBC1)
Duration: 77 mins

Director

Chris Marker

Producer

Cinematographer

Writer

Music

Contributor

Akira Kurosawa; Chris Marker; Robert Kramer

Cast

Tatsuya Nakadai

Production type: Documentary/Educational/News
Plays: King Lear
Keywords: film directors; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Rehearsals; Film directing
Related items: Ran

Notes: The documentary was issued on DVD in the Criterion Collection but is currently out of distribution (2008). The copy held by the BFI National Archive is an off-air recording from the BBC1 transmission.
Reviews: `It looks like a desperate attempt to impose significance on footage’. Vincent Canby, The New York Times (January 29 1986).

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