In early 1973 , the Soviet studio Mosfilm approached the filmmaker to ask if he would be interested in working with them . Kurosawa proposed an adaptation of Russian explorer Vladimir Arsenyev 's autobiographical work '' Dersu Uzala '' . The book , about a Goldi hunter who lives in harmony with nature until destroyed by encroaching civilization , was one that he had wanted to make since the 1930s . In December 1973 , the 63-year-old Kurosawa set off for the Soviet Union with four of his closest aides , beginning a year-and-a-half stay in the country . Shooting began in May 1974 in Siberia , with filming in exceedingly harsh natural conditions proving very difficult and demanding . The picture wrapped in April 1975 , with a thoroughly exhausted and homesick Kurosawa returning to Japan and his family in June . '' Dersu Uzala '' had its world premiere in Japan on August 2 , 1975 , and did well at the box office . While critical reception in Japan was muted , the film was better reviewed abroad , winning the Golden Prize at the 9th Moscow International Film Festival , as well as an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film . Today , critics remain divided over the film : some see it as an example of Kurosawa 's alleged artistic decline , while others count it among his finest works
9th Moscow International Film Festival
9th Moscow International Film Festival
Akira Kurosawa