Akira Kurosawa's last epic was probably the most notorious entry in his vast filmography, since it was the most expensive Japanese film ever produced up to that point, with a budget of $11 million. It was also almost dropped for lack of funding, and the 75-year-old master lost his wife during the shoot, in an event that only stopped him for a day. Eventually, and after many ‘skirmishes' with the Japanese film industry, it received Oscar nominations for art direction, cinematography, costume design (which it won), and Kurosawa's direction, after a campaign started by Sidney Lumet. It is currently considered one of the greatest films ever made.
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In feudal Japan, Lord Ichimonji decides to divide his realm among his three sons. Taro, the eldest, will receive the prestigious First Castle and become leader of the Ichimonji clan, while Jiro...
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In feudal Japan, Lord Ichimonji decides to divide his realm among his three sons. Taro, the eldest, will receive the prestigious First Castle and become leader of the Ichimonji clan, while Jiro...
- 2/26/2024
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
The result of the Pff Scholarship for 2020, “Cat and Salt, or Sugar” is the first feature film of Takashi Komatsu, who, back in 2016, won the Pff Grand Prix, with his middle length, “Out of the Frying Pan”.
“Cat and Salt, or Sugar” screened at the 42nd Pia Film Festival
Ichiro is a kind of hikikomori who lives with his timid mother, Keiko and his alcoholic father, essentially allowing the former to treat him like some sort of a pet and particularly a cat, as he so eloquently states in the beginning of the film. The two of them are essentially a team, and have alienated his father, whose obnoxious behaviour, however, definitely justifies their attitude. One day, while on a trip with his mother, they stumble upon an ex-boyfriend of hers, Mr Kaneshiro and his daughter, and through a series of rather illogical events, they invite them to stay in their house.
“Cat and Salt, or Sugar” screened at the 42nd Pia Film Festival
Ichiro is a kind of hikikomori who lives with his timid mother, Keiko and his alcoholic father, essentially allowing the former to treat him like some sort of a pet and particularly a cat, as he so eloquently states in the beginning of the film. The two of them are essentially a team, and have alienated his father, whose obnoxious behaviour, however, definitely justifies their attitude. One day, while on a trip with his mother, they stumble upon an ex-boyfriend of hers, Mr Kaneshiro and his daughter, and through a series of rather illogical events, they invite them to stay in their house.
- 4/23/2021
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Akira Kurosawa's Ran (1985) and Chris Marker's A.K. (1985) are showing April and May, 2020 on Mubi in the United Kingdom in the series In Front and Behind the Scenes: Kurosawa & Marker.“It is King Lear, yet it is not King Lear.” This statement, made by Chris Marker during the course of his 1985 documentary, A.K., which records the making of Akira Kurosawa’s Ran, is a noteworthy point when discussing the venerated Japanese master’s 1985 epic, as preliminary conversation concerning the film often centers on the seeds of influence found in the Bard’s 17th century drama. But while that story only entered Kurosawa’s mind after he had already conceived of Ran in the mid-1970s, he also drew inspiration, arguably more significant, from a parable about Mōri Motonari. In that account, the Sengoku-period warlord also had three children—three sons—who were admirably loyal to their father. Kurosawa took...
- 5/1/2020
- MUBI
"She's your sister. You have to protect her." GKids has unveiled a new official trailer for the animated film Mirai, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in Directors' Fortnight earlier this year. The latest film by master Japanese animation filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda, the film is a delightful adventure following a young Japanese boy living with his parents. His life is disrupted by the arrival of a newborn baby girl, named Mirai, which his parents bring home one day. He soon after discovers a magical garden in his home which enables him to travel through time and meet his relatives from different eras. He's guided by his younger sister from the future. The voice cast includes Haru Kuroki, Moka Kamishiraishi, Gen Hoshino, Kôji Yakusho, Kumiko Asô, and Yoshiko Miyazaki. It's an adorable, whimsical, fun little animated film. Give it a whirl. Here's the official Us trailer ...
- 9/27/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
"Thus begins the little big brother's fantasy-filled adventure." An official trailer has arrived for animated film Mirai from Japan, the latest work from filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda. Mirai is a sort of fairy tale about a young boy who encounters a magical garden which enables him to travel through time and meet his relatives from different eras. He is guided by his younger sister, Mirai, from the future. The film's voice cast includes Haru Kuroki, Moka Kamishiraishi, Gen Hoshino, Kôji Yakusho, Kumiko Asô, and Yoshiko Miyazaki. This is premiering at the Cannes Film Festival next month, and I'm looking forward to seeing it there. The footage in this trailer looks quite lovely, could be something special. Enjoy the first look. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Mamoru Hosoda's Mirai, direct from YouTube: Kun, a spoiled 4-year-old boy, comes across a magical garden where he ...
- 4/18/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Stars: Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryû, Mieko Harada, Yoshiko Miyazaki, Hisashi Igawa, Masayuki Yui, Kazuo Katô, Norio Matsui | Written by Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni, Masato Ide | Directed by Akira Kurosawa
When aging warlord Hidetori Ichimonji (Tatsuya Nakadai) decides it is time for him to retire, he divides the lands he rules between his three sons. This causes a bitter power struggle between his eldest sons, and his youngest being banished for his warning of the impending doom. As the reality of retirement his Ichimonji war breaks out, with the banished son being the only one who could possibly save his father from the warring brothers.
Ran starts off showing the epic landscape of Japan, teasing at what to expect from the film, and this location is used to full effect in the film. There are many huge battles that feel truly impressive, but the real magic is...
When aging warlord Hidetori Ichimonji (Tatsuya Nakadai) decides it is time for him to retire, he divides the lands he rules between his three sons. This causes a bitter power struggle between his eldest sons, and his youngest being banished for his warning of the impending doom. As the reality of retirement his Ichimonji war breaks out, with the banished son being the only one who could possibly save his father from the warring brothers.
Ran starts off showing the epic landscape of Japan, teasing at what to expect from the film, and this location is used to full effect in the film. There are many huge battles that feel truly impressive, but the real magic is...
- 5/8/2016
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
Ran (1985) Direction: Akira Kurosawa Cast: Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryu, Mieko Harada, Yoshiko Miyazaki, Hisashi Igawa Screenplay: Akira Kurosawa, Masato Ide, and Hideo Oguni Oscar Movies Akira Kurosawa's Ran By Dan Schneider of Cosmoetica: "Critical cribbing" is a term I coined in regard to the tendency of critics, in all fields, to not engage a work of art directly, but rather to fall back on lazily repeating claims that have been made by others about the work they are reviewing. Sometimes, these are positive blurbs; other times, they are bits of misinformation repeated endlessly — e.g., the (nameless) characters' names in films such as Alain Resnais' Last Year in Marienbad and Michelangelo Antonioni's Blowup. Typical examples of critical cribbing can be found in reviews of Akira Kurosawa’s 27th (of 30) films, Ran (1985), a very good effort despite problems with character development and some mediocre acting.
- 3/29/2011
- by Dan Schneider
- Alt Film Guide
Chicago – Of all the cinematic variations on Shakespeare’s “King Lear,” Akira Kurosawa’s “Ran” is one of the few that, dare I say, improves on the Bard’s original blueprint.
Rating: 5.0/5.0
Kurosawa’s vision of Lear is not merely that of an aging warlord undone by his own foolishness, but a ruthless warrior haunted by the countless lives he destroyed during his reign. His fate is anything but undeserved, and seems inspired by classic tragedies more Greek than Shakespearian.
“Ran” may be a devastating experience, but it also proves to be an uplifting one for anyone moved by watching a master filmmaker in peak form. It was an extraordinary triumph for the seventy-five-year-old Kurosawa, battling near-blindness in order to see his decade-old dream project through to its completion.
After a series of professional and personal setbacks, the filmmaker was widely considered to be washed-up, and “Ran” did not receive...
Rating: 5.0/5.0
Kurosawa’s vision of Lear is not merely that of an aging warlord undone by his own foolishness, but a ruthless warrior haunted by the countless lives he destroyed during his reign. His fate is anything but undeserved, and seems inspired by classic tragedies more Greek than Shakespearian.
“Ran” may be a devastating experience, but it also proves to be an uplifting one for anyone moved by watching a master filmmaker in peak form. It was an extraordinary triumph for the seventy-five-year-old Kurosawa, battling near-blindness in order to see his decade-old dream project through to its completion.
After a series of professional and personal setbacks, the filmmaker was widely considered to be washed-up, and “Ran” did not receive...
- 4/19/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
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