Year: 1985
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese
A story of greed, a lust for power, and ultimate revenge. The Great Lord Hidetora Ichimonji has decided to step aside to make room for the younger blood of his three sons, Taro, Jiro, and Saburo. The youngest son attempts to warn his father about betrayal, but is banished, even though the warning will ring true in time.
At the senior age of 75, having made over 20 successful films that influenced the world, one would think Kurosawa would have an easy time getting the budget for Ran but this was not so. In Japan he was considered too old fashioned and condemned for being "too western". He often had to beg for budgets, then witness the box office failure of his works. Though Kagemusha, his"practice" film was moderately successful, it still did not provide the budget for Ran. Only when he met Serge Silberman, a producer who financially supported genius outcasts, did he get the funding he desperately needed.
Its no surprise that the main protagonist of the picture, The Lord Hidetora, is an old man who is constantly faced with his own mortality. Kurosawa in his later years was obsessed with the fact that his death was inevitable and fast approaching. His body was failing him, his eyesight was poor and he even attempted suicide. While Ran is very much a film about war, the war is as internal as it is external. Hidetora is a man of pride, but his pride causes him to make foolish mistakes and ultimately ruins him.
The entire film seems painstakingly hard to make, each shot is made with the utmost precision, only a master of his craft could pull off such a feat. During the battle scenes the cameras do not keep up with the intense motion of the fight, rather they are static, making us feel like Gods rather than mortal spectators. The music creates a tense atmosphere, like no other film has Kurosawa shows us the folly of war.
The set design, costumes (which took the designer months to make), cinematography and lighting all contribute rather well to the overall tone and look of the film. It seems like Kurosawa made the film so that if one area was lacking, the picture would fall with it. The editing is consistent and adds to the melodrama. Each character is incredibly important and well acted, even the fool has a major part.
In conclusion, there is a strong argument to be made regarding whether or not Akira Kurosawa's Ran is the greatest epic film of all time. It is absolutely flawless from beginning to end and is drenched in philosophical ideas. Years after you watch this film it will be in your mind, asking yourself "Is the price of war worth it?" Praise it! 5/5
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