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Rashomon
羅生門
1950 88 min Japan 18+
★8.8
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Director: Akira Kurosawa
🎭 Based on
«Rashōmon»
byRyūnosuke Akutagawa
Trailers
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EN
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Description
Four people recount different versions of the story of a man's murder and the rape of his wife.
Budget:
$250,000
US Gross:
$46,808
Worldwide:
$117,668
Starring
Toshirô Mifune
Actor
Machiko Kyô
Actor
Masayuki Mori
Actor
Awards
Venice Film Festival 1951
— Italian Critics Award
Venice Film Festival 1951
— Golden Lion
Academy Awards 1952
— Special Award – Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Awards 1952
— Special Award – Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Awards 1953
— Best Production Design (Black and White)
Key opinion
Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon is widely regarded as a masterful, philosophical exploration of subjectivity, human egoism, and the elusiveness of truth. While its narrative structure and technical achievements remain highly influential, some viewers find its pacing slow or its theatrical acting style challenging.
| Cinematography | The cinematography is masterfully executed, utilizing stark light-and-shadow contrasts and unconventional camera angles to deepen the film's mysterious, psychological atmosphere. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay successfully presents a complex, non-linear narrative that forces the audience to confront the unreliability of memory and the prevalence of self-serving lies. | |
| Direction | Kurosawa's direction is highly regarded for its ability to transform a simple mystery into a profound, timeless inquiry into human nature and morality. | |
| Acting | Toshiro Mifune’s performance is frequently cited as a standout, though overall opinions on the acting are mixed, with some viewers finding the theatrical delivery overbearing or intense. | |
| Pacing | The film's pacing is a point of contention; while many find it a captivating and essential experience, others perceive the deliberate, contemplative tempo as tedious or unnecessarily heavy. |