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Rashomon

Play trailer Poster for Rashomon 1950 1h 28m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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98% Tomatometer 64 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Brimming with action while incisively examining the nature of truth, "Rashomon" is perhaps the finest film ever to investigate the philosophy of justice. Through an ingenious use of camera and flashbacks, Kurosawa reveals the complexities of human nature as four people recount different versions of the story of a man's murder and the rape of his wife.
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Rashomon

Rashomon

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Critics Consensus

One of legendary director Akira Kurosawa's most acclaimed films, Rashomon features an innovative narrative structure, brilliant acting, and a thoughtful exploration of reality versus perception.

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Critics Reviews

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Kevin Maher The Times (UK) 01/09/2023
5/5
It’s easy to forget, nonetheless, that the movie offers more rewards than a dazzling superstructure. It’s beautifully shot, vividly performed and is ultimately an arresting pop treatise on the impossibility of objective truth. Go to Full Review
Peter Bradshaw Guardian 06/17/2010
5/5
Unmissable. Go to Full Review
Ty Burr Boston Globe 04/22/2010
3.5/4
What Akira Kurosawa and his tiny production team wrought is now an accepted maxim of modern life, a creed by which to live in a world where everyone has a blog and an opinion. Go to Full Review
Michael Clark Epoch Times 09/21/2024
5/5
“Rashomon” isn’t a whodunit thriller. Instead, it’s an observation of the unreliability of human short-term memory, particularly of the multiple witnesses at a crime scene, who are also possible victims or perpetrators. Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 07/20/2024
6/10
Thoroughly unique, crafting a recognizable template for future films that opt to distort their narratives through the eyes of multiple storytellers and unreliable presentations of facts. Go to Full Review
Daniel Barnes Dare Daniel 11/14/2023
5/5
The fourth story is seemingly the most objective of them all, and it's probably the closest to the truth. But even in that story, there are big holes. Everyone has something to hide. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Peter Santana 10/25/2022 The perspective of four sides of the story so original for 1950! See more Benjamin 10/25/2022 Literally no exaggeration, one of the best movies ever. See more Christian M Dec 2 One of the best movies you will ever see in your life. 'Rashomon', directed by Akira Kurosawa and co-written by him alongside Shinobu Hashimoto, stands as an essential work both for those beginning to explore Japanese cinema and for those delving into the legendary Kurosawa’s filmography. Despite its short duration, the film achieves remarkable intensity, packing each scene with a surprising narrative and emotional richness. The screenplay employs a narrative structure that has set a benchmark in the use of flashbacks in cinema history. The way the story is constructed and reconstructed at every moment invites the viewer to question every word, creating a dynamic in which trust and doubt go hand in hand. This technique heightens dramatic tension even during the calmest moments, transforming a "slow" pace into a narrative tool of great power. The characters, perfectly written and portrayed, serve as reflections on the human condition. Each embodies universal emotions and conflicts. None reveals their motivations explicitly or through words alone; everything is conveyed through subtle, finely nuanced performances. This makes the film a constant exercise in interpretation, where every detail carries decisive weight. Kurosawa’s direction ensures that the mise-en-scène remains outstanding throughout, with careful control of rhythm and composition. The contrasts between moments of pause and frenetic sequences feel natural and deeply effective. The result is a profoundly rewarding cinematic experience that engages the viewer both intellectually and emotionally. 'Rashomon' is an absolute reference in cinema. Not only for its ability to innovate storytelling and character construction but also for its emotional impact. It is a film that lingers long after the credits, one you may want to revisit over time to reflect and gain new insights. A work that unquestionably holds a place among the greatest cinematic achievements ever created. See more Johannes S Nov 21 To explain a complex moral trope so well and simple in the year of 1950 is mindblowing! Unfortunately, the only negative is that the hysterical crying and laughing of the woman is amped up 200% louder than the rest of the sounds, which is annoying as hell. See more Lars N @movie_douche Oct 21 Genuinely mind bending, it's of course the inventive use of narration that gets the most attention, but the Kurosawa's signature beauty and Shakespearean grandiosity are also as prominente as ever. See more Isaiah Y @zayman2 Oct 8 One of Kurosawa's best films, featuring great performances from Toshiro Mifune and Takashi Shimura See more Read all reviews
Rashomon

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Movie Info

Synopsis Brimming with action while incisively examining the nature of truth, "Rashomon" is perhaps the finest film ever to investigate the philosophy of justice. Through an ingenious use of camera and flashbacks, Kurosawa reveals the complexities of human nature as four people recount different versions of the story of a man's murder and the rape of his wife.
Director
Akira Kurosawa
Producer
Minoru Jingo
Screenwriter
Ryûnosuke Akutagawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Akira Kurosawa
Distributor
RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co
Daiei Motion Picture Company
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 26, 1950, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 23, 2017
Runtime
1h 28m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Academy (1.33:1)
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