Ran
Akira Kurosawa made many great Samurai epics in his long career (such as Yojimbo, Seven Samurai and Kagemusha), but his masterpiece is undoubtedly Ran, his adaptation of Shakespeare's King Lear. Shakespeare's universal relevance is proven, King Lear lending itself perfectly to the setting of feudal Japan. (Kurosawa similarly adapted Macbeth in his 1957 film Throne of Blood.)
Shot in authentic fortresses and surreal volcanic landscapes, Ran is a work of art, exquisitely visualized in virtually every shot. The film also boasts some of the finest battle scenes ever staged, portraying the horror and waste of war yet at the same time possessing a grotesquely compelling allure. Toru Takemitsu's atmospheric score enshrouds the film in mythic aura, blending orchestra with traditional Japanese instruments (the major battle scene of the film contains no dialogue or sound effects, only Takemitsu's music, lending the surreal quality of a nightmare).
The piercing tragedy at the heart of Shakespeare's play is masterfully portrayed, treachery and betrayal -and the carnage they inspire-ultimately engulfing all the characters. Ran is both a searing and poignant meditation on the tragedy of war and very possibly the finest film of all time.
Paul Andrew MacLean
© 1998 
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LadyJanet@RenaissanceMagazine.com