2001Nominee
Best Director
Darkness in the Light
Kei Kumai
Director · Writer
Nagano Prefecture, Japan
June 1, 1930
Biography
Kei Kumai (熊井 啓, Kumai Kei, 1 June 1930 – 23 May 2007) was a Japanese film director from Azumino, Nagano prefecture. After his studies in literature at Shinshu University, he began work as a director's assistant. He won the Directors Guild of Japan New Directors Award for his first film, Nihon rettō, in 1965.[2] His 1972 film Shinobu Kawa was entered into the 8th Moscow International Film Festival.[3] His 1973 film Rise, Fair Sun was entered into the 24th Berlin International Film Festival. Sandakan No. 8 received widespread acclaim for tackling the issue of a woman forced into prostitution in Borneo before the outbreak of World War II. The film was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 48th Academy Awards.
Photo
Representative Works
Awards and Honors
Critical Favorites
1989Nominee
Best Director
Death of a Tea Master
1972Nominee
Best Director
The Long Darkness
Career Highlights
1974Highlight
Best Director
Sandakan No. 8
1986Highlight
Best Director
The Sea and Poison
Video
Sandakan No. 8
The Sea and Poison
Hiroshima