Contents
Shōhei Imamura
Winning two Cannes Palmes d’Or with The Ballad of Narayama and The Eel.
The Insect Woman · The Ballad of Narayama
- Born
- 15 September 1926
- Birthplace
- Tokyo, Japan
- Died
- 30 May 2006
More people
Shōhei Imamura
Shōhei Imamura looked beyond respectable society to desire, survival and people living at its edges.
Early life
Postwar Tokyo
Grew up in a doctor's family and experienced the upheaval of defeated Japan.
University theatre
Studied at Waseda University while becoming involved in theatre.
Career
- 1951
Studio apprenticeship
Joined Shochiku and assisted Yasujirō Ozu.
- 1958
Directing debut
Began directing at Nikkatsu.
- 1965
Independent company
Established Imamura Productions and later explored documentary filmmaking.
- 1980s–1990s
Major recognition
Returned to feature work and won Cannes' top prize twice.
Selected work
The Insect Woman
A woman's survival exposes shifting social hierarchies.
The Ballad of Narayama
A mountain community follows a brutal rule for its elderly.
The Eel
A released prisoner attempts to rebuild his life.
Beyond work
Film education
Founded the school that developed into the Japan Institute of the Moving Image.
Next generation
Filmmaker Takashi Miike studied at his school and worked on his productions.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Cannes: films and awards ↗Photo: キネマ旬報社 撮影者不明. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
