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Rashomon (1950)

Akira Kurosawa is probably the most well-known Japanese film director outside of Japan. Active from the 1940s through the 1980s, he did his best work during the 50s and 60s, with Rashomon arguably his best work.

Rashomon kicked off Kurosawa's most productive period with ten films in eleven years, including The Seven Samurai, and ending with Yojimbo, another highly acclaimed movie that has become a legend and spawned some high profile remakes.

"Rashomon" means "castle gate" - the title refers to the recurring scenes where characters meet in the gate during a rainstorm, passing the time while they wait out the deluge. There are only a few characters, but each has an important role to play.

As the characters talk, the scene flashes back to a verdant forest glen with a samurai and his wife, a couple of days before. The two encounter a bandit, played by Toshiro Mifune, the samurai ends up dead, and the woman is raped. The difficulty presented is the story is played out four different times and each time the story is quite different. Who are we to believe?

The actors must reenact the scene four times, each time putting on different character traits to conform with the differing storytellers' versions. It is quite an acting feat and along with the great performances from Toshiro Mifune, and especially the bride, Machiko Kyo, you are treated to some beautiful shot setups that reveal the artistic eye of Akira Kurosawa at its best.

The whole film is very well done and the first words spoken by the Woodcutter - "I just don't understand it, I just don't understand it at all," - may be the key to the whole riddle that Rashomon has presented these fifty-some years: Everybody's truth is different, because they cannot separate themselves from their witness.

If you watch Rashomon to try to figure out what actually happened, you will end up frustrated, because Kurosawa does not show you. Instead, try to puzzle out why each character has seen such different action, the three persons involved, and the Woodcutter, who was a hidden witness. The dead man even tells his own tale, through means of a spiritual medium. Yet his testimony is no more reliable than anyone else's.

The Criterion DVD presents the 88 minute black and white film in 1.33:1 theatrical format with Japanese dialog and English subtitles. The video is not restored but it is still in respectable condition. There are a commentary by Japanese film expert Donald Richie and an introduction by Robert Altman, as well as stills and a booklet giving the text of the two short stories that were combined to make the screenplay of Rashomon.

If you are uncomfortable with ambiguity or the downbeat subject matter, or don't like subtitles, Rashomon will probably not be a memorable viewing experience. However, if you want to see a movie that was groundbreaking and has served as a model for many subsequent movies, you will probably enjoy this film.

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Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening