J-Film Blog

I dunno about Rashomon.  One of Kurosawa’s definitive classics, you really have to be prepared to stick through the whole thing to get to the heart of the matter.  Until then, you’re kind of wondering what the point of it all is.  Which, after all, is the point of it all….  Maybe I should explain.

Tell me if you’ve heard this one before.  A priest, a farmer, and a woodcutter walk into a ruined temple.  No?  Well, news is that a samurai was killed by a local bandito and his female companion raped, and here’s what happened….

…from each of their viewpoints.  Each gets to tell the story from either their own perspectives, or from what they heard at the suspect’s (Toshiro Mifune) trial.  So we get to hear the same story different times, and of course, each version depends on the person, their own prejudices, experience, etc.

In reality, though, none of that matters.  No, really, it doesn’t.  The point of the movie is not the events that transpired at all.  If you wait for the final scene at the temple, you’ll get it.  That humanity sucks, and is glorious, all at the same time.  That the priest rediscovers his faith in people, and that the woodcutter (or the farmer, I forget) is fulfilled.  That we all share the same experiences, yet they’re all quite different….  A bit convoluted, yes.  Absolutely, but in my opinion, that’s what its all about.  That final scene.  I don’t even think I can explain it properly, but just stick it out.

Once again, Mifune reprises his role as the completely psycho bandit.  Or begins it, I suppose.  Seems that role suited him for a time.  The rest, to me, is typical 1950’s/1960’s Japanese movie.  Kurosawa or not.  And I have to admit that I was starting to get plenty bored with it.

So, if you can live through it, wait for the ending of Rashomon.  Hopefully you won’t be disappointed.  I still can only bring myself to give it 3/5, because of the wait.

Amazon:Rashomon – Criterion Collection
Netflix: Rashomon
IMDB: Rashomon