Review of Rashomon (1950) by Keenan S — 30 Mar 2014

Rashomon is one of the greatest films ever made - that's all that really needs to be said, but it wouldn't be fair for me or the film to leave it at that. No, Rashomon isn't just a film, it is an experience that will never leave you even when you finish watching it. It is by far one of the most riveting and powerful dramas I've ever seen, and it's also a film that engaged me, made me think, and also left me to ponder its meanings and messages.

The film starts off with three men gathered at an abandoned temple during a rainstorm who discuss the occurrence of a rape and murder and the four differing points of view over what really happened: the bandit's, the woman's, the dead man's through a medium, and a witness to the heinous incident. The three men try desperately to piece together how such a horrible thing could occur and what may have really happened.

While the plot is fairly simple, Kurosawa takes this plot and makes it go above and beyond what it would be by itself and also challenges the viewer to make their own interpretations. It's a film about human perception, the dark depths of the human soul, but also about our faith or damnation of mankind in the midst of such a horrible crime.

Though only 83 minutes in length, Rashomon packs a hell of a lot into such a short time and I found myself completely absorbed by its haunting and powerful plot, made all the more real by the superb acting. Beautiful, haunting, challenging, visceral, emotionally gripping, and all-too-realistic, Rashomon is a film that no serious film fanatic should ever miss out on because it will blow you away and make you feel in a way that few films ever will in your life. It's a film that forces the viewer to peek into the deep, ugly recesses of human nature and makes us wonder if humanity is really good, or if we are simply monsters who try to justify our misdeeds. What more could you ask from a drama with such touchy material? It's a masterpiece, no question about it.