Shôhei Imamura

Master of the Japanese New Wave, Shôhei Imamura was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1926 and was an active director from 1951 until 2002. Renowned for his exploration of the lower depths of Japanese society, he crafted films primarily in the drama genre with his most notable works including "The Ballad of Narayama" and "Vengeance is Mine", both of which earned him accolades such as the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Imamura's authorial style often displayed a fondness for the eccentric and the grotesque, offering a stark contrast to the more traditional Japanese cinema of his time.

Shôhei Imamura, with his unique storytelling and unflinching depiction of humanity's complexities, truly left an indelible mark on the world of cinema.