A Masterpiece in Every Respect

The film I most consider for this project is the film by the great Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, Ran. The movie is an epic masterpiece, it could be examined from any of the perspectives we discussed in class quite easily. The title can be translated as Chaos. It is a beautiful adaptation of a true story of a real Japanese warlord (the movie's Hidetora) and his sons, changed and fit to Kurosawa's adaptation of the great Shakespeare play King Lear. Formally, the film is beautiful, if at times disturbing in its images, a work of art throughout. The film has historical significance, as it is from Japanese history. The story and dialogue is rich with ideas and concepts, a script worthy of any adaptation of Shakespeare with subtleties and masterful use of language.

The story is that of Hidetora Ichimonji's abdication to all three of his sons equally, rather than to one of them, as would be customary. He dismisses the warning of one of his sons, banishing him and leaving the power to the two of them. Betrayal ensues, and soon it is an all out war, struggle for power and series of treacheries and lust. The warlord soon finds himself running alone in his own lands, fearing his sons troops, and confronting his past of the horrors he once caused. Deluded that he is trapped in hell and being led by the fool whom he banished, Hidetora views from afar the chaos and terror that befell his once strong kingdom. The fool is just as terrified, if slightly more sane, and struggle continues across the lands.