Review of Rashomon (1950) by Jamison R — 29 Aug 2010
A terrific performance by Machiko Kyo really helps buoy this story, since her character is really the only one that changes (most dramatically) from story to story. Her acting (and swordplay) in Tajomaru's version of the events, in particular, was amazing.
In the end, the film leaves you with the options of the stories, but also the option between the bandit hearing the tale or the woodcutter telling the final tale: is mankind gallant, is mankind pathetic, is mankind devious, is mankind evil, or is mankind "only human"? While the priest's faith is renewed, I'm not sure everyone's will be.
Frankly, I empathized most with Tajomaru's version of the events because they were romantic, as I tend to be--even if they weren't the factual account of what happened.
This review of Rashomon (1950) was written by Jamison R on 29 Aug 2010.
Rashomon has generally received very positive reviews.
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