Ran

Director: Akira Kurasawa

20 February 2024

See

Him: Hidetora (Tatsuya Nakadai) a warlord in medieval Japan retires and hands power over to his three sons, whose relationships sunder with him and each other as they compete for power.

Think

Him: I read that Ran is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s King Lear. I haven’t read it, but now I want to as I found the feuding sons compelling, do all siblings squabble over a will? ‘No one goes quietly’, as the tagline for the final season of Boardwalk Empire goes. 

Taro (Akira Terao) the eldest inherits the title but is weak, propped up by his politically cunning wife Lady Kaeda (Mieko Harada). Jiro (Jinpachi Nezu) is ambitious, and conspires with his samurai to usurp the podium. Saburo (Daisuke Ryu) speaks the truth and is banished. 

The production is epic, their samurai armor, kimono’s and even soldier’s and banners correspond to Taro’s yellow attire, Jiro’s red and Saburo’s blue. Supporting characters are well developed, Kaede supersede’s Taro for screen time and prominence in the narrative, Jiro’s wife Sue (Yoshiko Miyazaki) is graceful. His general Kurogane (Hisashi Igawa) delivers a monologue analogy about foxes as an allegory for Kaeda’s machinations which is my favourite scene. Hidetora’s fool Kyoami (Pita) and his advisor Tanyo (Masayuki Yui) are some of the best dialogue and character motivations. It reminds me of Willem Dafoe as a crazed court jester in Northman, who speaks truth that others won’t because it risks their life and status. These two and Saburo do it anyway, that’s why I’m on their side. 

Feel

Him: Hidetora’s acting is incredible. Severe at the start. Dignified as his circumstances change, then indignant as he’s outmaneuvered and loses status. But it’s his kabuki performance of senile that’s impeccable. That the house of Ichimonji destroyed itself was agitating, which brother was in the right? Does it matter if it ceases to exist?