{In The Woods}
 The Criterion Collection "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. Storyline: A priest, a woodcutter and another man are taking refuge from a rainstorm in the shell of a former gatehouse called Rashômon. The priest and the woodcutter are recounting the story of a murdered samurai whose body the woodcutter discovered three days earlier in a forest grove. Both were summoned to testify at the murder trial, the priest who ran into the samurai and his wife traveling through the forest just before the murder occurred. Three other people who testified at the trial are supposedly the only direct witnesses: a notorious bandit named Tajômaru, who allegedly murdered the samurai and raped his wife; the white veil cloaked wife of the samurai; and the samurai himself who testifies through the use of a medium. The three tell a similarly structured story - that Tajômaru kidnapped and bound the samurai so that he could rape the wife - but which ultimately contradict each other, the motivations and the actual killing being what differ. The woodcutter reveals at Rashômon that he knows more than he let on at the trial, thus bringing into question his own actions. But another discovery at Rashômon and the resulting actions from the discovery bring back into focus the woodcutter's own humanity or lack thereof. Written by Huggo Cast Notes: Toshirô Mifune (Tajomaru), Machiko Kyô (Masako), Masayuki Mori [I] (Takehiro), Takashi Shimura (Woodcutter), Minoru Chiaki (Priest), Kichijiro Ueda (Commoner), Fumiko Honma (Medium), Daisuke Katô [I] (Policeman). User Comment: Matrix-2 Sydney, Australia • Like it or not, Rashomon IS one of the most brilliantly constructed movies of all time (I know I'm ripping off Leonard Maltin, but he put it sooo well!), and it's unquestionably one of the greatest films I have ever seen. Starring Kurosawa favourites, Takashi Shimura as the humble woodchopper, I'm damn sure the priest was in The Seven Samurai (the one from the "Wood Cut School"!), and of course, the irrepressible Toshiro Mifune as the crazed bandit Tajomaru, the film is incredibly well acted all round, yet any credit due for the performances pales in comparison to the supreme achievement of Akira Kurosawa, who of course directed and partially wrote the screenplay. With a surface complexity on par with "Citizen Kane" (yet admittedly not quite as good, but hey! How many films are?), "Rashomon" is incredibly gripping, and packed to the brim with great GREAT scenes. I'd had my money's worth after about 15 min into the movie, even IF I'd gotten the parking ticket I risked to catch the movie at the cinema! (I just LOVE that bit where Shimura walks in the woods with the axe on his shoulder!) 'Rashomon' is everything a movie should be, it's funny, sad, frightening, horrific, exciting, tense, depressing, uplifting, thought-provoking, even haunting. Every single movie ever made has flaws (some movies simply have more than others) and 'Rashomon' is no exception (it is JUST outside my top 10). However, I believe this movie belongs to an imaginary select group that stand as gospels of cinematic technique ('Citizen Kane' and 'Battleship Potemkin' included. I would also like to nominate Tsui Hark's 'Once Upon a Time in China', but I think the real critics might be against me on that one!), and stands today, almost half a century old, as 90 of the most rewarding minutes you'll ever spend in front of a screen. This movie is testament to the genius of one of the greatest filmmakers to have ever lived, and embodies some of the most important and greatest messages that have ever needed saying. I should also add that it's nothing next to "The Seven Samurai", but that's another story. 'Kurosawa' was understandably passed over for the Academy Award for Best Director. Why he failed to win the Nobel Prize is a far greater mystery... Summary: Akira Kurosawa is God. IMDb Rating (03/21/13): 8.4/10 from 61,775 users Top 250: #92 IMDb Rating (10/15/07): 8.3/10 from 22,667 users Top 250: #74 IMDb Rating (07/09/02): 8.6/10 from 5,217 users Top 250: #58
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