Akira Kurosawa's Ran is one of the director's most ambitious and visually incredible projects. Regarded to be his last true epic – and widely-regarded as one of the greatest films of all time – taking inspiration from Shakespeare's King Lear, it was Japan's most expensive film at the time of release in 1985.
Not the first time Kurosawa took inspiration from the works of Shakespeare – 1957's Throne of Blood is a reworking of Macbeth, and 1960's The Bad Sleep Well inspired by Hamlet – Ran takes place in 16th century Japan, as an elderly warlord retires and divides his empire between his three sons.
However, he underestimates how power will corrupt them, and cause them to turn on each other... and him.
A breath-taking experience, see this film re-released back on the big screen for its 40th anniversary.
Read a retrospective feature from Reel Steel.
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