Review of Rashomon (1950) by David R — 07 Dec 2010

An embarrassing gap in my filmic background was finally filled over the weekend when I discovered Rashomon on Netflix Instant. Watching it today, it's easy to forget how innovative Kurosawa was back in 1951 with this film. As the Golden Age of Hollywood cinema was coming to a close, I can't help but believe that Rashomon played a part in that closing. With its disjointed, non-linear narrative, its single story told four times from differing perspectives, it is nothing short of monumental in its challenge to the cinematic aesthetic of the time. And its influence is felt today in both film and television.

For me, one of the most inspiring aspects about this film is its simplicity. Three (and a half) locations: A broken down temple, a wooded glade (near a stream for one scene), a courtyard. A smallish cast. I'm reminded of another masterpiece of simplicity, Hitchcock's Lifeboat. Films like these remind me that one doesn't need huge Avatar-sized budget to make a film.