Ran (1985)

In Medieval Japan, an elderly warlord retires, handing over his empire to his three sons. However, he vastly underestimates how the new-found power will corrupt them and cause them to turn on each other...and him.

Director:

Akira Kurosawa

Writers:

Akira Kurosawa (screenplay), Hideo Oguni (screenplay)

Stars:

Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu

Top Rated Movies #136 | Won 1 Oscar. Another 29 wins & 21 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tatsuya Nakadai	...	Lord Hidetora Ichimonji
Akira Terao	...	Taro Takatora Ichimonji
Jinpachi Nezu	...	Jiro Masatora Ichimonji
Daisuke Ryû	...	Saburo Naotora Ichimonji
Mieko Harada	...	Lady Kaede
Yoshiko Miyazaki	...	Lady Sue
Hisashi Igawa	...	Shuri Kurogane
Pîtâ	...	Kyoami (as Peter)
Masayuki Yui	...	Tango Hirayama
Kazuo Katô	...	Kageyu Ikoma
Norio Matsui	...	Shumenosuke Ogura
Toshiya Ito	...	Mondo Naganuma
Kenji Kodama	...	Samon Shirane
Takashi Watanabe
Mansai Nomura	...	Tsurumaru (as Takeshi Nomura)

Storyline

Japanese warlord Hidetori Ichimonji decides the time has come to retire and divide his fiefdom among his three sons. His eldest and middle sons - Taro and Jiro - agree with his decision and promise to support him for his remaining days. The youngest son Saburo disagrees with all of them arguing that there is little likelihood the three brothers will remain united. Insulted by his son's brashness, the warlord banishes Saburo. As the warlord begins his retirement, he quickly realizes that his two eldest sons selfish and have no intention of keeping their promises. It leads to war and only banished Saburo can possibly save him.

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Plot Keywords:

nihilism | wench | whore | father in law daughter in law relationship | shakespeare's king lear | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Japan France

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

1 June 1985 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Ran

Filming Locations:

Aso, Kumamoto, Japan

Box Office

Budget:

$11,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$90,000, 22 December 1985, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$3,522,421

Company Credits

Production Co:

Greenwich Film Productions, Herald Ace, Nippon Herald Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

162 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The only film that year to be Oscar nominated for Best Director, but not Best Picture.

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Goofs

During the siege on the third castle, the corpse of one of Hidetora's guards suddenly shuts his eyes just before as a volley of arrows flies past him.

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Quotes

Kyoami: Man is born crying. When he has cried enough, he dies.

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Successful Foreign Films (2014)

User Reviews

Be prepared to be awe-struck!

With RAN (1985) Akira Kurosawa seems to be setting up a macarbe trap. The first section of the film is slow, following an aging warlord (Tatsuya Nakadai's best acting in a long wonderous career.) dividing his castles amongst his unsavory sons. The action is slow, people talk in low tones, it's almost at snail's pace. But then, a battle scene like nothing you ever seen before explodes on the screen. The film takes a 180 degree turn and becomes more and more sinister, more compelling. You can't look away.

Akira Kurosawa (1910-1997) was responsible for elevating Japanese cinema to a front-runner in world cinema. Two of his films, RASHOMON and SEVEN SAMURAI were made in less than ten years after World War II. These films put a spotlight on Japanese culture. Some of his later films, THE HIDDEN FORTRESS, THE BAD SLEEP WELL, YOJIMBO and HIGH AND LOW became the basis for a good percentage of the major American films produced after 1960.

If you sit down to see RAN, be prepared for a jaw-dropping experience.