Rent Rashomon (1950)

3.9 of 5 from 268 ratings
1h 26min
Rent Rashomon (aka Rashômon) Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
  • General info
  • Available formats
Synopsis:
A woodcutter experiences a horrific series of events - an ambush, rape and murder. In the telling of the tale however, each of the four participants give different views of what actually happened - is any of them telling the truth? Kurosawa's masterful film plays on the subjective nature of truth while unfurling a riveting tale of violence and greed.
Actors:
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Directors:
Writers:
Ryûnosuke Akutagawa, Akira Kurosawa
Others:
Matsuyama, H. Motsumoto
Aka:
Rashômon
Studio:
BFI Video
Genres:
Drama
Collections:
10 Films to Watch if You Like Citizen Kane, 21 Reasons to Love, 21 Reasons to Love... Ingmar Bergman, A Brief History of Pantomime Stories on Film: Part 1, Award Winners, Films to Watch If You Like..., Getting to Know..., How to: Break Lockdown Boredom By Watching Films in 2021, Lions on the Lido, New waves of Korean Cinema, New waves of Polish Cinema, Our Service, Roeg and Bertolucci: Remembering the Masters, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Kenji Mizoguchi, The Instant Expert's Guide to Sidney Lumet, The Instant Expert's Guide to: Akira Kurosawa, Top 10 Golden Bear Winners, Top 10 Movie Grandmas For Mother's Day, Top 10 World Cinema Remakes, Top Films, What to watch by country
Countries:
Japan
Awards:

1951 Venice Film Festival Golden Lion

BBFC:
Release Date:
22/10/2001
Run Time:
86 minutes
Languages:
Japanese LPCM Mono
Subtitles:
English
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen 1.33:1 / 4:3
Colour:
B & W
BBFC:
Release Date:
21/09/2015
Run Time:
88 minutes
Languages:
Japanese LPCM Stereo
Subtitles:
English
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Full Screen 1.33:1 / 4:3
Colour:
B & W
BLU-RAY Regions:
B
Bonus:
  • Rashomon at 65 (Stuart Galnraith IV, 2015, 34 mins): Documentary visiting some of Rashomon's key locations, featuring interviews with former staff from the Daiei-Kyoto Studios
  • John Boorman on Rashomon (6 mins)
  • 2010 BFI theatrical reissue trailer

More like Rashomon

Reviews (4) of Rashomon

A Well Crafted Story - Rashomon review by CP Customer

Spoiler Alert
26/06/2008

Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon is one hell of a story. It follows one story from different points of view so the audience is unsure of who is telling the truth, who is lying or who doesn't realise they are lying.

Told in flashback it constantly intrigues and surprises and becomes something quite profound.

Added to this are the visuals. Filmed in 1950, is still looks better than a host of Hollywood films I've seen this year.

I'm off to get the rest of Kurosawa's work!

2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.

A classic that holds up reasonably well and perhaps has a contemporary point to make - Rashomon review by RCO

Spoiler Alert
23/07/2018

Its a classic which presages many elements in subsequent films. A bit slow paced at times with some over-expressive acting (but you could call that 'style'). The inner story told from four different points of view is not as outrageous as the main teller says, but as subject for a meditation on perception, ambiguity and reality it works well. In the end the truth is what you decide it is - which is perhaps something that resonates uncomfortably for us in these Trumpian times.

2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.

You Can't Underestimate This One - Rashomon review by CP Customer

Spoiler Alert
03/02/2011

Kurosawa is the master - even Bergman acknowledged his influence. And this film is must be about Kurosawa's best. Other influences on this film (silent movies, early popular "modern art") can't take away how innovative it is (plot, technique, direction). But most of all, it is "the lack of a truth" that paved the way for many poor imitators.

1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.

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