

Kei Kumai
Directing
June 1, 1930
Nagano Prefecture, Japan
May 23, 2007
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.
The Filmography


Darkness in the Light

To Love

Deep River

Luminous Moss

Shikibu monogatari

Death of a Tea Master

The Sea and Poison

Willful Murder

Love and Faith

Sandakan No. 8

The Long Darkness

Apart from Life

The Sands of Kurobe

A Chain of Islands
