Ran: KUROSAWA Akira’s epic masterpiece follows a powerful Sengoku-era warlord who decides to abdicate his seat of power to his eldest son; what follows is chaos, vengeance, strife, treason, and jealousy among his three sons and others in his inner circle. It’s a rigorous film, a bit brutal even, with no heroes or redeeming figures. Acting is generally stylized, in a match to the material and setting: NAKADAI Tatsuya plays the old warlord who loses it all, including his sanity, in the most stylized performance of them all; TERAO Akira, NEZU Jinpachi, and RYUU Daisuke play his sons; HARADA Mieko, as his manipulative daughter-in-law, is quite good.

The film is a visual feast: the costumes, designed by WADA Emi, are detailed and luxurious, with strong colours, and are in the very upper echelon of the most impressive work ever for a film. The production design, by MURAKI Shinobu and MURAKI Yoshiro, is incredible as well. It was all beautifully captured by the cinematography team (NAKAI Asakazu, SAITOO Takao, UEDA Shooji), with great lighting and exquisite framing, which makes great use of the locations’ geography. The musical score, by TAKEMITSU Tooru, is distinctive and truly special.