What it’s about
In medieval Japan, a man and his wife, travelling on horseback, have a chance encounter with a thief in the woods. Ultimately, the man is murdered, and the wife raped. Beyond the reality of these events, precise circumstances are more difficult to establish, since the recollections of all concerned differ markedly.
Why we love it
Kurosawa’s ingenious breakthrough feature examines the elusive nature of truth, and our ability to reshape it to suit what we want to believe. Brilliantly composed and shot, the film’s dreamlike quality is hypnotic. The first Japanese film to resonate strongly in a post-war America, “Rashomon” remains an indelible cinematic triumph- beautiful, profound, and complex. Better still, this eternal classic rewards repeat viewings.
Toshiro Mifune, Machiko Kyo, Takashi Shimura, Masayuki Mori, Kichijiro Ueda, Daisuke Kato, Minoru Chiaki Akira Kurosawa
Toshiro Mifune Machiko Kyo Takashi Shimura Masayuki Mori Kichijiro Ueda Daisuke Kato Minoru Chiaki Akira Kurosawa
