Rashomon (Japan: Akira Kurosawa, 1950)

 

Rashomon (Japan: Akira Kurosawa, 1950: 88 min)

A riveting psychological thriller that investigates the nature of truth and the meaning of justice, Rashomon is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made. Four people give different accounts of a man’s murder and the rape of his wife, which director Akira Kurosawa presents with striking imagery and an ingenious use of flashbacks. This eloquent masterwork and international sensation revolutionized film language and introduced Japanese cinema—and a commanding new star by the name of Toshiro Mifune—to the Western world. (source)

"Akira Kurosawa, Part 1." Director's Club #141 (January 1, 2018)

Curley, Melissa Anne-Marie. "Dead Men Don’t Lie: Sacred Texts in Jim Jarmusch’s Dead Man and Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai." Journal Of Religion & Film 12.2 (October 2008)

Es, Robert van. "Persistent Ambiguity and Moral Responsibility in Rashomon." Film and Knowledge ed. Kevin L. Stoehr. Mcfarland, 2002: 102-119.

"From the Kurosawa Archives." The Current (March 23, 2017)

Harper, Dan. "Great Directors: Akira Kurosawa." Senses of Cinema (July 2002)

Kurosawa, Akira. "On Rashomon (1982)." Current (November 6, 2012)

LoBrutto, Vincent. "Multiple Point-Of-View-Narrative: Rashomon." Becoming Film Literate: The Art and Craft of Motion Pictures. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2005: 243-248. [BCTC Library: PN1994 L595 2005]

Meyer, Isaac. "Never Look Away." The History of Japan #236 (April 21, 2018) ["This week, we discuss the career of Japan’s most legendary director, Kurosawa Akira. From humble, middle class beginnings, our story will take us through some of his most notable films, and include detours into the lives of Mifune Toshiro, George Lucas, and even Francis Ford Coppola!"]

Nakaoka, Genkon. "On Filming Rashomon." The Current (November 7, 2012)

Prince, Stephen. "Mightier Than the Sword: Shinobu Hashimoto at 100." The Current (June 13, 2018)

---. "The Rashomon Effect." The Current (November 6, 2012)

Radley, Blaise. "The Pioneers of Post-Truth: Rashomon at 70." The Quietus (April 10, 2020)

Richie, Donald. "Remembering Kurosawa." The Current (December 9, 2009)

Sesonske, Alexander. "Rashomon." The Current (June 25, 1989)

"Sight and Sound Poll 2012: Rashomon." The Current (September 7, 2012)

"The Versatile Artistry of Japan’s Most Revered Cinematographer." The Current

Zhou, Tony. "Akira Kurosawa - Composing Movement." (Posted on Vimeo: March 20, 2015)