Rashomon

“A chilling, utterly memorable dissection of the nature of human communication.” – ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆ The Guardian

When a noblewoman is raped in the woods and her accompanying samurai is subsequently killed, we see the events unfold from four different perspectives in a series of flashbacks. Often cited as one of the best films of all time, Kurosawa’s Rashomon is an action-packed mystery film that examines the subjectivity of truth and the philosophy of justice.

There are two sides to every story, but in Rashomon, there are five. A wife, a samurai, a bandit and a woodcutter all share their recollection of a fateful encounter that left one dead whilst the truth remains hidden between the lines of contradictions. How did the man die, and what circumstances led to his demise? As the story is retold, we witness the human nature of self preservation manifest as we are left to form our own conclusions.

Originally released in 1950, the re-release of this Oscar-winning film is simply unmissable. Credited as being the first Japanese feature to reach an international audience, it is responsible for what is today known as the ‘Rashomon effect’ – a commonly-used device where a single story is told from multiple points of view. 

Cast includes Toshirô Mifune, Machiko Kyô, Masayuki Mori

Directed by Akira Kurosawa

Cert 12A