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Rashomon (1950)

Rashomon

I was referred to watch “Rashomon” while I was reading a book that mentioned this film as one of the most influencing films in history, more because of its plot and technique. From its title, of course you will know that “Rashomon” came from Japan. This 1950 film was made by Akira Kurosawa, the director that also brought you “Seven Samurai”. As I recalled, I guess “Rashomon” could be the third or the fourth black-and-white film I have ever watched.

Adapted from two short stories written by Ryunosuke Akutagawa, the story of “Rashomon” was told in a flashback when a woodcutter (portrayed by Takashi Shimura), a priest (portrayed by Minoru Chiaki), and a commoner (portrayed by Kichijiro Ueda) gathered in a ruined gatehouse named Rashomon. The woodcutter and the priest were just summoned to testify to the local court about a peculiar case of rape of a woman and murder of her husband. Then, the woodcutter started to recount the court as he started to retell the case through the very differing points of view of the three other witnesses: the raped woman (portrayed by Machiko Kyo), the rapist named Tajomaru (portrayed by Toshiro Mifune), and the soul of the murdered husband (portrayed by Masayuki Mori) called using a medium (portrayed by Noriko Honma).


Rashomon
"A man has to make a woman his by his sword" - the woman


Akira Kurosawa used a different style of storytelling in “Rashomon”, which at that time was considered as a breakthrough of filming. Today, maybe we can parallelize this style to similar films like “The Usual Suspect”, “Vantage Point”, and any other films that tell the same story from different points of view of the characters. The crime scene will take place over and over again, according to every perspective of the witnesses. This elliptical plot, somehow, went quite intriguing in “Rashomon” because that one single rape and murder scene was told so differently from every witness. Then, we will be taken to predict which one of these witnesses was telling the truth (or maybe none of them was telling the truth). It’s a little bit similar to a whodunit style, but after you finish watching “Rashomon”, you’ll be presented a wholly different conclusion of this strange case.

Well, “Rashomon” was made in 1950. Its black-and-white coloring will amaze us that this nonstandard, non-conventional plot style had been adapted 62 years ago. Look at the make up, the costume, and the set; they were so traditionally, genuinely, and innocently made. For the record, “Rashomon” opened a gate to the West cinema industry to introduce the Japanese films to a wider acclaim. It is beautiful and notable with its eccentric cinematography, and it resembles an ambiguity as the main topic. I cited Wikipedia that “Rashomon” was the first film that was “...shooting directly into the sun and using mirrors to reflect sunlight onto the actor's faces...” as it influences Western filmmakers to adopt this technique.

Rashomon

Although some parts were quite (or too) weird, but you must have known that appreciating this film cannot be done using modern films as parameters. “Rashomon” not only is a monumental and historical work but also implies today’s entertainment. Best regard to Akira Kurosawa for presenting a brightly different and brand new style that influence modern cinema. With a moral and philosophical content lies beneath the plot, “Rashomon” is acclaimed, worth to watch, and artistically classic.



Rashomon

4 out of 5 stars

 ▲  Monumental, artsy, a breakthrough at its time
 ▼  Some may consider it too awkward

RASHOMON | COUNTRY Japan YEAR 1950 RATING Unrated GENRE Crime, Drama RUNTIME 88 min CAST Toshiro Mifune, Machiko Kyo, Takashi Shimura, Minoru Chiaki, Kichijiro Ueda WRITER Ryunosuke Akutagawa (stories "Rashomon" & "In A Grove"), Akira Kurosawa & Shinobu Hashimoto (screenplay) DIRECTOR Akira Kurosawa IMDB RATING 8.4/10 (Top #90) METACRITIC n.a. ROTTEN TOMATOES 100% (Certified Fresh) MORE INFO

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9 comments:

  1. wah, sekarang udah nonton film2 jadul, ampun kk...


    saya mah gak kuat


    nonton batman taun 1989 aja belum sampe setengah udah gak tahan
    padahal yang bikin tim burton

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  2. haha ini kebetulan aja dapat referensi film klasik yang bagus. ternyata emang beneran bagus haha

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  3. yeah this one is surely kurosawa's gem, the novel is one good source of literature reference that Akutagawa, hes kinda psycho writer though. Cheers.

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    1. Wow, seems like you know a lot about Kurosawa and classic Japanese films :D I watched "Rashomon" just as a way I try to expand my experience, you know, but I haven't watched a lot.

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    2. No mate, my lecturer made me so...but Im glad anyway..hahahaha

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  4. and yes sure that Kurosawa's Rashomon is heavily influenced the twisting Usual Suspect, but hey thats not Kurosawa's technique, the credit should goes to Ryunosuke Akutagawa. Rashomon is a horror about poor samurai and mysterious old lady, In a Bush adapted in Indonesian: Dalam Belukar is short story about murder, and in this film is presented as it is. Dalam Belukar itself it is not chronologic, not first person nor third person nor using any general literature element and technique, and feels like you read official detective investigation report, and that is Akutagawa's innovation, that is his technique pal, and on the otherside Akira Kurosawa just making it as it is, sure with his own style of cinematography, but not the original structure of plot and presentation. You should watch Yojimbo and Sanjuro, them both are hell of a movies! Cheers!

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    1. Again, you have given a lot of new information to me. Seriously, I even haven't heard about Akutagawa, In A Bush, Yojimbo, or Sanjuro, and you really made me intrigued to know more about them. Thank you! :D

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    2. Glad to share mate!

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