''Men prefer sorrow over joy... suffering over peace!''An elderly lord abdicates to his three sons, and the two corrupt ones turn against him.
Tatsuya Nakadai: Lord Hidetora Ichimonji
Born in 1910 Japan, Akira Kurosawa first studied painting before m
...( read more)oving into film in the late 1930s. A well-known director in Japan throughout the 1940s, his 1950 production of Rashomon launched him to international acclaim; and throughout the remainder of his long career he was widely acknowledged as among the world's greatest film directors. The creator of such films as The Seven Samurai, Throne Of Blood, and Yojimbo. Released in 1985, RAN would be among his final films and is generally felt to be among his finest.Kurosawa often borrowed plot lines from Western literature, and with RAN; the Japanese word translates loosely as chaos.
He integrated the basic story guidelines from William Shakespeare's King Lear. In Kurosawa's retelling, the Lord Hidetora Ichimonji (Tatsuya Nakadai) divides his kingdom between three sons: Taro (Akira Terao), Jiro (Jinpachi Nezu) and Saburo (Daisuke Ryu). When youngest son Saburo upbraids his father for foolishness, Hidetora banishes him; only to find Taro and Jiro turning against him just as Saburo predicted. Kurosawa shapes the Shakespearean story to 16th Century Japan, so it would be easy to belabor comparison with the original; at the same time, however, it is worth pointing out that he actually captures the story more effectively than any western filmmaker has to date.As in many Kurosawa films, Ran alternates moments of great stillness with rapacious action, enclosed spaces with wide vistas. In stillness, the film focuses upon its actors and their intrigues; perhaps most notably the perfidious Lady Kaede, a truly dark character frighteningly realized.
I was personally interested with the character of Lady Kaede played to perfection by Mieko Harada. All through history women can be so much more manipulative than any man can dream of being. Some of the world's most notorious and great figures in History have sometimes been driven to make choices not of their own making due to a manipulative wife. Little suggestions or murmurs from their partner; influencing ideas within their minds that otherwise wouldn't have been thought of immediately. You can trace this recurring theme right back through the ages tracing back to present day.
Indeed, all the cast is remarkably fine. But the great centerpiece, and the great performance, of the film is Tatsuya Nakadai's Lord Hidetora, whose mixture of good intention and folly leads first to humiliation and then to madness.
Hidetora Ichimonji played by Tatsuya Nakadai is instantly recognizable as being an Award winning performance in our eyes. The transition that goes on during the film's running time is mind blowing incredible. We see a man lose everything, we see his own past and his rise to power; the many people he has effected by his bloodthirsty actions, by his untamed goal for ultimate domination and power. Women who have lost their families and homes, been claimed as the victors wives, a boy has his sight taken and home destroyed along with the suffering of his sister.
The victims only peace is to pray to Buddha...but as RAN tells us, Buddha left this place a long time ago, to the world of men who ravage the lands with war and blood.
Perhaps the single most stunning moment of the film occurs when Hidetora, betrayed by his sons, walks down the tower steps of the third castle following a vicious battle. It is difficult to imagine many actors who could perform such a scene; it is equally difficult to envision many directors who could achieve this greatness from their acting cast.Few directors are able to convey the sense of chaos, destruction, and fear with which Kurosawa endows battle scenes, and RAN is no exception. There are several worthy circumstances, and the battle of the third castle (in which Hidetora is attacked by sons Taro and Jiro) is easily among the finest battle sequences of Kurosawa's career. Presented without any sound except a simple, eloquent music score, flash-cutting between different groups in the struggle, the result is a unique mixture of beauty and horror; in my opinion unequaled by any other film I've seen.
The cinematography for 1985 is unrivaled, having that timeless and radiant glow of legendary significance. Costumes and battle gear really are flawless; the calvary and infantry simply are jaw-droppingly inspiring to watch. Combine the visuals with a very Japanese primal score of music, strong emotionally charged performances and you have a winner. The cast doesn't just say their lines, they bark them with a daunting, charged tone that screams believability and finesse.It should be noted that RAN, unlike Rashomon, Throne Of Blood, Yojimbo and many other Kurosawa films, RAN is in colour. I have long been used to the remarkable shading of Kurosawa's black and white projects, and I missed it; but only for a moment. Kurosawa proves no less adept in colour than in black and white format, and RAN's use of colour is beautiful. For this reason I particularly recommend the Criterion Collection edition of the film over any other; it is impeccably fine. But regardless of the particular version, this is a film which must be seen by anyone who appreciates Asian or world cinema; truly a masterwork by a great master, Akiro Kurosawa.
''Are there no gods... no Buddha? If you exist, hear me. You are mischievous and cruel! Are you so bored up there you must crush us like ants? Is it such fun to see men weep?''
Ran
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Ran
Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryu, Mieko Harada
A version of Shakespeare's "King Lear," set in feudal Japan where aging ruler, Lord Hidetora, unleashes a power struggle amongst his three sons.
Id: 10857564
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Recent Reviews
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December 21, 2009''Men prefer sorrow over joy... suffering over peace!''
An elderly lord abdicates to his three sons, and the two corrupt ones turn against him.
Tatsuya Nakadai: Lord Hidetora Ichimonji
Born in 1910 Japan, Akira Kurosawa first studied painting before m
...( read more) -
December 13, 2009This may well be the best epic film ever made. It's certainly amongst the best I have ever seen.
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November 28, 2009After a lifetime of conquest, ageing Lord Hidetora hands the reigns of power to his eldest son, but banishes his youngest when he questions the loyalty of his two brothers. When Hidetora is betrayed as Saburo predicted, he is left to wander the desolate lands his armies had ravag...( read more)
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July 11, 2009akira kurosawa.... philosophy at its finest. obviously a shakespeare story as there's more killing than in a abattoir. such a great japanese adaptation
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May 3, 2009Akira Kurosawa does The Bard?s King Lear (with sons rather than daughters) with some of the director?s greatest battle sequences, but also delivers a telling meditation on loyalty, revenge, power and war.
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December 20, 2009Akira Kurosawa's version of Shakespeare's King Lear is an epic masterpiece of power and revenge set in 16th century Japan. The cinematography is excellent such is the use of vibrant colour as is the battle sequences. Absolutely amazing.
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December 15, 2009A true tragedy, to be sure, but one that always manages to get me in a tremendously deep way. By far my favorite film of Kurosawa's.
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November 1, 2009Grande épico. Uma adaptação de Rei Lear do Shakespeare nos moldes do Japão Feudal.
