Felt to me a commentary on the human soul, the way people react in violent situations and the way those choices can be rationalized so easily. The film is beautifully shot and edited well, all the Kurosawa regulars do a fine job. It was interesting that a simple crime film had so much to say. Reminded me of Dostoevsky or Poe, with fear and greed as the catalyst.
Satyajit Ray - "The effect of the film on me, personally, was electric. I saw it three times on consecutive days and wondered each time if there was another film anywhere which gave such sustained and dazzling proof of a director’s command over every aspect of film making. Even after fifteen years, whole chunks of the film come vividly back to mind in all their visual and aural richness: the woodcutter’s journey through the forest, shot with a relentless tracking camera from an incredible variety of angles—high, low, back and front—and cut with axe-edge precision; the bandit’s first sight of the woman as she rides by, her veil lifted momentarily by a breeze, while he lolls in the shade of a tree, slapping away at mosquitoes; the striking formality of the court scene with the judge never seen at all; the scene of witchcraft with the medium whirling in a trance, and the wind blowing from two opposite directions at the same time… No, there was no doubt the Japanese cinema was something to reckon with, and a good probe into its past achievements was called for."
With Rashomon, Japan for one of the first time gained international recognition. The film won an Honorary Oscar and won in many film festivals. Even after 60, Rashomon's cruelty and reality still shocks viewers. But the artistic and stylish direction balances it out. Even today, this film is approached by filmmakers in order to learn the beautiful mysterious magic of cinema.
Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic was the first released to - or at least noticed by - the Western World, and it's since become one of the most referenced in all of cinema. Its structure - in which we see the same events from different perspectives - has been copied by everything from Hero to Star Trek: The Next Generation, but having never seen it, I still found it full of surprises. The central story is about a rape? That's really hardcore. I'm also shocked whenever Kurosawa springs a supernatural element on his audience. But most shocking of all is how moved I was at the very end, at what the film says about the human condition, at how profound it all is. And it's a shock because every other story that poached this structure has turned it into a reason not to connect emotionally with it. They're intellectual puzzles, and often quite satisfying, but because you can't trust the story tellers, a wall springs up between your mind and your heart. The secret is to make you connect with the people hearing the story's many viewpoints, because you're in the same situation. Rashomon makes you empathize with the smallest roles in the film. It's magic.
The movie definitely got better as it went along. I absolutely loved how each characters version of the story was just the truth reflected through them. After hearing the three previous versions, the truth was really just that much better. The final scenes afterwards, in the old fort, were also very very well done. It seemed very bleak, but again very well done.
Rashômon is a tour de force of film making and directing ability and rightfully put Akira Kurosawa on the international stage. Never resorting to bashing its audience over the head with its clear moral standpoints, it is quite content to present the issue and let the knot of worms in your stomach accomplish the feat. The effect is visceral and presented in a simple, yet direct way.
The trial scenes really stick out, Akira deliberately shows no judge, no jury, choosing only to watch the trio of morally corrupt beings to spin their tales, to tell their own "truth." And we are those that stand in judgment, they look directly into our eyes, our souls, and ask if we are any different from them.
"They are common stories these days. I even heard that the demon living here in Rashômon fled in fear of the ferocity of man."
Can't believe someone made a film like this in 1950 while in 2010s there are more films that lack of substance than good ones. I heard this term a lot but never really use it to describe a film but.. yes, this film is ahead of its time.
A masterpiece. Just as I finished it I had the impulse of re-watching it, not because there's an answer that I could find but to get more questions about those characters. It is a testament of his greatness that a movie that is so perfectly shot and with a visceral visual power, has such a reputation of being a story-driven movie.
Something small bothered me trought this movie...Did women in Japan shaved their eyebrows? It just seems so unnatural, the medium scared me more than most horror films!
@mrsnoops
Sexist? Hardly. You are not taking into account the time period the story takes place. Remember, women in japan started voting during 1920s and the story takes place during the 11th century. Somebody should correct me if im wrong ^^.
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Comments 1 - 15 of 31
seithscott
Felt to me a commentary on the human soul, the way people react in violent situations and the way those choices can be rationalized so easily. The film is beautifully shot and edited well, all the Kurosawa regulars do a fine job. It was interesting that a simple crime film had so much to say. Reminded me of Dostoevsky or Poe, with fear and greed as the catalyst.K.
Satyajit Ray - "The effect of the film on me, personally, was electric. I saw it three times on consecutive days and wondered each time if there was another film anywhere which gave such sustained and dazzling proof of a director’s command over every aspect of film making. Even after fifteen years, whole chunks of the film come vividly back to mind in all their visual and aural richness: the woodcutter’s journey through the forest, shot with a relentless tracking camera from an incredible variety of angles—high, low, back and front—and cut with axe-edge precision; the bandit’s first sight of the woman as she rides by, her veil lifted momentarily by a breeze, while he lolls in the shade of a tree, slapping away at mosquitoes; the striking formality of the court scene with the judge never seen at all; the scene of witchcraft with the medium whirling in a trance, and the wind blowing from two opposite directions at the same time… No, there was no doubt the Japanese cinema was something to reckon with, and a good probe into its past achievements was called for."Filmsthemostbeautifulart
With Rashomon, Japan for one of the first time gained international recognition. The film won an Honorary Oscar and won in many film festivals. Even after 60, Rashomon's cruelty and reality still shocks viewers. But the artistic and stylish direction balances it out. Even today, this film is approached by filmmakers in order to learn the beautiful mysterious magic of cinema.5/5
Siskoid
Akira Kurosawa's 1950 classic was the first released to - or at least noticed by - the Western World, and it's since become one of the most referenced in all of cinema. Its structure - in which we see the same events from different perspectives - has been copied by everything from Hero to Star Trek: The Next Generation, but having never seen it, I still found it full of surprises. The central story is about a rape? That's really hardcore. I'm also shocked whenever Kurosawa springs a supernatural element on his audience. But most shocking of all is how moved I was at the very end, at what the film says about the human condition, at how profound it all is. And it's a shock because every other story that poached this structure has turned it into a reason not to connect emotionally with it. They're intellectual puzzles, and often quite satisfying, but because you can't trust the story tellers, a wall springs up between your mind and your heart. The secret is to make you connect with the people hearing the story's many viewpoints, because you're in the same situation. Rashomon makes you empathize with the smallest roles in the film. It's magic.dirte_lawndre
Overall I thought the film was okay, but visually I thought it was excellent!heavymetaldante
The movie definitely got better as it went along. I absolutely loved how each characters version of the story was just the truth reflected through them. After hearing the three previous versions, the truth was really just that much better. The final scenes afterwards, in the old fort, were also very very well done. It seemed very bleak, but again very well done.DisneyStitch
Rashômon is a tour de force of film making and directing ability and rightfully put Akira Kurosawa on the international stage. Never resorting to bashing its audience over the head with its clear moral standpoints, it is quite content to present the issue and let the knot of worms in your stomach accomplish the feat. The effect is visceral and presented in a simple, yet direct way.The trial scenes really stick out, Akira deliberately shows no judge, no jury, choosing only to watch the trio of morally corrupt beings to spin their tales, to tell their own "truth." And we are those that stand in judgment, they look directly into our eyes, our souls, and ask if we are any different from them.
"They are common stories these days. I even heard that the demon living here in Rashômon fled in fear of the ferocity of man."
C. Ebelin
Can't believe someone made a film like this in 1950 while in 2010s there are more films that lack of substance than good ones. I heard this term a lot but never really use it to describe a film but.. yes, this film is ahead of its time.stexdo
A masterpiece. Just as I finished it I had the impulse of re-watching it, not because there's an answer that I could find but to get more questions about those characters. It is a testament of his greatness that a movie that is so perfectly shot and with a visceral visual power, has such a reputation of being a story-driven movie.SkilledLunatic
Something small bothered me trought this movie...Did women in Japan shaved their eyebrows? It just seems so unnatural, the medium scared me more than most horror films!Holden7
@mrsnoopsSexist? Hardly. You are not taking into account the time period the story takes place. Remember, women in japan started voting during 1920s and the story takes place during the 11th century. Somebody should correct me if im wrong ^^.
don_vito
One of Kurosawa's best!eeva1701
This movie will def stick with me . A masterpieceMoutardedShroom
Chapeau!Only a handful of directors are as visually powerful as Kurosawa, and even less work with stories that are so rich and satisfying...
jacktrewin
visually one of the most amazing films i've seenShowing items 1 – 15 of 31