Filmmakers fight for inspiration. Directors dream and build their vision for the screen but each is influenced. Whether it is by a person or a culture, everyone is sparked by another work, and the Coolidge Theatre is showing just how much Japan has influenced film with a dazzling line up in their Samurai Summer II.

This sequel is a carefully planned follow up to the debut in 2021. Created as a celebration of their 30^th anniversary, the Coolidge Theatre began Samurai Summer as a way to honor their history of displaying Japanese films in the 70s and 80s. Director of Special Programming Mark Anastasio handles the selection and procurement of the films:

“When the theater was first turned into a two-screen theater, the Coolidge was kind of famous for running films from Japan. It was known as the movie house where you could come and see Kurasawa films or Ozu films. And samurai film programs were among the most popular programs that the theater put on so we thought it would be cool. While we do run these films throughout the year and through numerous programs at the Coolidge, we thought it would be fun to focus an entire month on samurai films in particular.”

The series will kick off on August 16 with The Hidden Fortress by Akira Kurosawa. The next day features a film most might not expect. Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope. “Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress was actually a huge influence on George Lucas as a filmmaker.” Mark added. “And you can see references to Hidden Fortress in Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope.” From costuming, to the storyline, Star Wars saw a lot of Japanese influences. Even the term Jedi is derived from Japanese “jidai-geki”, meaning period drama.

There will be two movies a week for four weeks, displaying a total of eight films that are either Samurai related, contain elements of the culture, or were influenced by Japan or Samurai film.

Week two will feature Onibaba, a thrilling film with Samurai armor influences.  A double feature of Kill Bill will follow. Certain cultural elements are present there and Mr. Anastasio described it as “more of a stylized genre film.” A blind swordsman will take over the screen in The Tale of Zatoichi on August 30^th, a saga that included six films and didn’t begin in the theatre. “The Zatoichi films are just so much fun.” Mark said. “The tale of the blind swordsman is a long running and very popular samurai series in Japan. It was based on, I believe, a book. It’s been turned into a manga. People might not be as familiar with it as they are some of these other characters from well-known films, but we wanted to start to play lesser-known titles as part of exposing people to these amazing films that don’t get to play so often.”

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai will follow the next day. It’s a film that holds more traditional Samurai practices in mind as the main character is determined to follow the Bushido code. Though these are coming from a different time period in a different culture, its relevance remains because it shares that culture and history with others. And people can go to see their culture and history represented in the theatre. Mark made it clear, “Everyone should feel like this is their movie house.”

While some of these films have pairings between the traditional Japanese original and the American influenced or remake movie, not all have counterparts. The remaining line up for the films will see Ran, another Kurosawa film, on September 9^th, and the final film, A Fistful of Dollars on September 7^th.

“That first pairing, those films are really in conversation with each other. The rest of the series it’s just sort of examples. They aren’t exactly talking to each other.” Mark said as he explained his choices for the line-up. “So, we’re running those films the day after one another. I hope people will come so they can see the inspiration for such an iconic pop culture sort of movie. I just feel like a lot of people might not know that the roots of these films are Japanese.”

Most would be surprised to see just how many American films find their roots in Japanese stories, folklore, film, and manga. Kurosawa has made several influences and even had a film remade into a western that includes not only one of Hollywood’s most famous Director/ Actors but is also the last film to show this summer series. A Fistful of Dollars. “Fistful of Dollars was just an immediate rip off of Kurosawa’s Yojimbo.” Mark said. He understands the importance of tracing film’s inspirations, but also the importance of seeing different culture’s films and how they have changed film elsewhere. “You know, the film makers saw that movie and said we’re going to make that movie, but we’ll turn it into a western. They had no permission to do so, and it took them years to get the rights. But they initially stole the idea from Kurosawa. It’s pretty much a beat for beat remake of Yojimbo.”

Hollywood has been borrowing from Japan for a long time. Some of the biggest hits, including, Avatar, The Matrix, The Lion King, The Magnificent Seven, The Ring, and even rock band Kiss, have all borrowed from Japanese film, storytelling, and culture. There are those that have been honest about their inspiration. Creators of The Matrix have been open about their inspiration in the Ghost in a Shell film, saying they wanted to make the live action version of that with a different plot, of course. Kiss borrows elements of their costume, make-up, and acting from Kabuki actors.

Mark makes sure that the theatre does not cross any lines with any of the films they are showing. With so many filmmakers in America borrowing, stealing, or even taking elements from another culture, some might worry about cultural appropriation. That is why sharing influences and celebrating that culture is so important.

Love for film is a love for life and experience and that is also why Mark explains the importance of seeing these films and being aware of the influence. “Seeing Seven Samurai in high school from a 35-millimeter print that was being projected- it was totally an aha sort of moment for me in that I hadn’t really been exposed to foreign films. Certainly never, you know, not too many black and white films. And to have this gorgeous film on screen from Japan, reading subtitles. It’s in black and white and I’m absolutely enthralled and loving every minute of it. That was a real eye-opening moment for me, that there was this whole other world out there, whole other cultures making films that I should be aware of and needed to learn more about.”

Mark is trying to make others aware through this festival, giving credit where credit is due. Entertaining, enlightening, educational, and empathetic, all in one, the Summer Samurai II brings all it can to the big screen. “I really do think that films are like the greatest tool there is for generating empathy for one another.” Mark continued. “We can sit down and watch a film and put ourselves in another person’s shoes. And to learn about experiences that are unlike our own.” Further than seeing someone else’s experience, this film series brings cultural awareness and representation, bringing in older movies from Japan that have gone on to influence so much. Mark welcomes audiences from all over the Greater Boston area and encourages readers to jump on the Green Line to Brookline to a theatre that shares and celebrates culture and welcomes all.