Remembering Kaneto Shindo

Japanese writer/director Kaneto Shindo was born on April 22 1912 in Hiroshima prefecture. He died of natural causes on May 29th, 2012, at the age of 100.

Shindo is credited at IMDb with directing 45 titles writing 168. His career began in 1941; his last film, Postcard, which he also directed and wrote the screenplay for, was released in 2010. He won 30 awards and received 15 other nominations.

He is perhaps best known for his screenplays of Hachi-ko (1987) and its American remake Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009) and for writing and directing Onibaba (1964) and Kuroneko (1968), the latter two films both being available in The Criterion Collection. Shindo's last film, Postcard, which he also directed and wrote the screenplay for, was released in 2010.

ACF 989: The Urge for Survival: Kaneto Shindo retrospective starts today at BAM

Photo courtesy of Kindai Eiga Kyokai Co., Ltd.

New York - Tokyo has announced that the national tour of the much anticipated Kaneto Shindo retrospective will kick off at BAMcinématek in Brooklyn starting today. From April 22 to May 5, BAMcinématek and actor Benicio Del Toro, in partnership with agnès B and the Japan Foundation, will present The Urge for Survival: Kaneto Shindo.

This 11-film touring retrospective of the Japanese director and screenwriter's diverse and fascinating oeuvre. Features include the North American premiere of Shindo's newest film, Postcard and a week-long runs of new 35mm prints of Children of Hiroshima (in its US theatrical premiere) and The Naked Island. Del Toro and Jiro Shindo, the director's son, will appear in person on April 22. For more details & ticket info, click here.

First a screenwriter, then an apprentice to Mizoguchi, Kaneto Shindo has since built one of the most richly diverse portfolios in Japanese film history—from humanistic docu-dramas and expressionistic ghost stories to erotic tales of sex. On the occasion of Shindo’s 99th birthday on April 22nd and the North American premiere of his newest (and self-declared last) film Postcard, longtime fan Benicio Del Toro will present some of the director’s finest work.