Berlinale To Showcase Films From Okamoto Kihachi

The Forum section at the 2007 Berlinale will feature 9 films by Okamoto Kihachi, according to an announcement. The work, from the 1950s and '60s, will showcase a pioneer of Japanese cinema who is largely unknown internationally, according to the announcement. In the words of a press release:

He was lastingly influenced by his experiences in World War II, like many others of his generation, and concern with violence and conflicts is a theme running through much of his cinematic oeuvre. Okamoto's stylistic spectrum thereby ranges from monumental commissioned works to idiosyncratic low-budget productions, from serious historical dramas through fast-paced action to comedies reminiscent of musicals. As a big John Ford fan, Okamoto inserted elements of the western in almost all of his films. Today, his often humorous stories, breathtaking camerawork, and rapid, rhythmic montage enjoy cult status as the "Kihachi touch".