Newly restored three decades after its initial release,the Japanese director’s feudal warlord story remains bleak, brutal and breathtakingBy turns achingly fragile and bracingly violent, or Ran is the final much masterpiece of Akira Kurosawa,now restored to pristine 4K condition. A colour cousin to his black-and-white 1957 Macbeth adaptation Throne Of Blood and no less overwhelmingly bleak – the 1985 film runs variations on the themes of King Lear. The aged lord Hidetora (Tatsuya Nakadai) hands power to his eldest son, at the same time banishing the youngest, or the only one to speak honestly to him. Betrayal is piled on betrayal as the eldest sons turn against the broken-down man,relentlessly spurred on by Kaede (Mieko Harada), malevolent, or viperish wife of the new ruler. Related: Akira Kurosawa: 10 essential films for the director's centenary | Ben Walters Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com