Rashomon
"The definitive cinematic treatment of point of view." -Premiere
Brimming with action while incisively examining the nature of truth, Rashomon is perhaps the finest film ever to challenge perceptions of reality and justice. Through an ingenious use of camera and flashbacks, Kurosawa reveals the complexities of human nature as four people recount different versions of the story of a man's murder and the rape of his wife. Toshiro Mifune gives another commanding performance in the eloquent masterwork that revolutionized film language and introduced Japanese cinema to the world.
Member Reviews
You Be The Judge. - secondtimevirgin
Kurosawa's excellent study of the malleability of human memory to fit the needs of the human doing the remembering.
The witnesses face the audience and answer questions from an unseen and unheard judge which effectively makes the audience the judge.
A visionary treatment of perspective in film.On Human Weakness - swissguy
A lot of people might think Rashomon is going to be a kind of whodunit Samurai story but it is not, at least not entirely. It is the story of a rape and a murder as seen by various people who then interpret the events in such a way that they may protect themselves and their own egos. It is a study in human weakness but also in humanities ability to redeem itself even while being weak and perhaps in part as a result of being weak. The acting was at times very good and at times was dated as was the cinematography and technical qualities of the film. It is definitely a film that needs to be seen more than once to be fully appreciated but if you go right from the start with the intent to see a study of the human condition as opposed to an action film you will get a lot out of it from the first viewing.it wasn't me - the_dude1
Probably one of his best. Simple yet amazingly clever character and story play. I wish I sat in the theatre in 1950 when this movie was screened. I would've been blown out of my chair as this must've been a good chunk of years ahead of its time. However, it is standing tall against the test of time. 5 different angles to one story sounds interesting enough but it keeps you guessing and wondering until the end. Apart from the story there is some amazing camera work in this film that's worth noting. A must see film.
Member Reviews
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You Be The Judge. - secondtimevirgin
Kurosawa's excellent study of the malleability of human memory to fit the needs of the human doing the remembering.
The witnesses face the audience and answer questions from an unseen and unheard judge which effectively makes the audience the judge.
A ...On Human Weakness - swissguy
A lot of people might think Rashomon is going to be a kind of whodunit Samurai story but it is not, at least not entirely. It is the story of a rape and a murder as seen by various people who then interpret the events in such a way that they may protect themselves ...it wasn't me - the_dude1
Probably one of his best. Simple yet amazingly clever character and story play. I wish I sat in the theatre in 1950 when this movie was screened. I would've been blown out of my chair as this must've been a good chunk of years ahead of its time. However, it ...