Author Spotlight

David Bordwell

David Bordwell is the author of Planet Hong Kong: Popular Cinema and the Art of Entertainment (second edition available at his site).

3 Results
A Touch of Zen: Prowling, Scheming, Flying

In his staggeringly ambitious masterwork A Touch of Zen, Chinese filmmaker King Hu imbues dynamic scenes of combat with balletic grace and audacious stylistic experimentation.

By David Bordwell

Tokyo Story: Compassionate Detachment
When Tokyo Story was released in late 1953, Western audiences were just being exposed to Japanese cinema. Akira Kurosawa had made his breakthrough with Rashomon three years earlier, and Kenji Mizoguchi was moving to the forefront of the international…

By David Bordwell

Early Summer

In Yasujiro Ozu’s hands, the extended-family drama widened its focus to encompass friends, neighbors, and employers.

By David Bordwell