About

Known credits:
32
Birthday:
1930-11-10
Place of birth:
Matsukasa, Japan
Website:
N/A

Kazuo Kuroki

Overview

Kazuo Kuroki (黒木和雄 Kuroki Kazuo) was a Japanese film director who was particularly known for his films on World War II and the question of personal guilt.

He attended Doshisha University, but left before graduating, instead finding employment at Iwanami Productions. There he directed PR films and documentary films, while also participating in the "Blue Group" (Ao no kai) with other Iwanami filmmakers such as Noriaki Tsuchimoto, Shinsuke Ogawa, and Yōichi Higashi, a group that was exploring new paths in documentary. Kuroki left Iwanami after experiencing conflicts with the sponsors of Hokkaido, My Love (1960). With Record of a Marathon Runner (1964) that helped spark changes in the Japanese documentary world.

Kuroki switched to fiction film, independently producing Silence Has No Wings (1966) and showing it at the Art Theatre Guild. He became one of the representative figures of ATG and independent Japanese cinema, and was particularly known for a series of works dealing with the atomic bombings of Japan, such as Tomorrow (1988) and The Face of Jizo (2004). These were in part spurred by his growing up near the city of Nagasaki. Kuroki's work also dealt with his own feelings of guilt from the war, as he felt responsible when some of his fellow students, who had been conscripted to work in a local factory, died in Allied bombings and he did not help

Known for

Acting
1981 Hear the Wind Sing Actor Shrink 59
Average

Directing
2006 The Blossoming of Etsuko Kamiya Directing Director 59
Average
2004 The Face of Jizo Directing Director 59
Average
2002 A Boy's Summer in 1945 Directing Director 59
Average
2000 Pickpocket Directing Director 59
Average
1990 Ronin-gai Directing Director 58
Average
1988 Tomorrow Directing Director 59
Average
1983 A Bridge of Tears Directing Director N/A
N/A
1980 Keishi-K Directing Director N/A
N/A
1980 Until Evening Directing Director N/A
N/A
1978 Lost Love Directing Director 58
Average
1975 Preparation for the Festival Directing Director 58
Average
1974 The Assassination of Ryoma Directing Director 58
Average
1973 When the Night Breaks Directing Director N/A
N/A
1970 Evil Spirits of Japan Directing Director 59
Average
1969 Cuban Lover Directing Director 59
Average
1966 Silence Has No Wings Directing Director 59
Average
1963 The Solar Thread Directing Director N/A
N/A
1963 Record of a Marathon Runner Directing Director N/A
N/A
1962 Hokkaido, My Love Directing Director N/A
N/A
1961 The Seas Are Full of Sheep in Love Directing Director N/A
N/A
1959 The Sea Wall Directing Director N/A
N/A

Writing
2006 The Blossoming of Etsuko Kamiya Writing Screenplay 59
Average
2004 The Face of Jizo Writing Screenplay 59
Average
2002 A Boy's Summer in 1945 Writing Writer 59
Average
2000 Pickpocket Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1988 Tomorrow Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1969 Cuban Lover Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1966 Silence Has No Wings Writing Screenplay 59
Average
1962 Hokkaido, My Love Writing Writer N/A
N/A
1961 The Seas Are Full of Sheep in Love Writing Writer N/A
N/A

Editing
1966 Silence Has No Wings Editing Editor 59
Average