AKIRA KUROSAWA
Bil’s rating (out of 5): BBBBB.
Japan, 1950. Daiei Motion Picture Company. Screenplay by Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, based on the stories Rashomon and In A Grove by Ryunosuke Akutagawa. Cinematography by Kazuo Miyagawa. Produced by Minoru Jingo. Music by Fumio Hayasaka. Production Design by Takashi Matsuyama. Film Editing by Akira Kurosawa. Podcast: My Criterions.
Exceptional Japanese drama by Akira Kurosawa, the film that established his name as a powerful voice in international cinema. The rape of a noblewoman (Machiko Kyô) and the murder of her husband is recounted by different ‘witnesses’, all of whom have completely different takes on the situation. The outcome is for you to discover in this powerful film, beautifully filmed and languidly directed.
The Criterion Collection: #138
Academy Award: Honorary Foreign Language Film Award (1951)
Nomination: Best Art Direction-BW (1952)
Berlin Film Festival: In Competition
Venice Film Festival Award: Golden Lion