Director: Kurosawa Akira
Script: A. Kurosawa, Oguni Hideo, Hashimoto Shinobu, Kikushima Ryūzō, d’après William Shakespeare
Cinematographer: Nakai Asakazu
Editing: A. Kurosawa
Music: Satô Masaru
Cast: Mifune Toshirô, Yamada Isuzu, Chiaki Minoru, Kubo Akira, Shimura Takashi, Sasaki Takamaru, Tashikawa Hiroshi
Prod: Kurosawa Akira, Motoki Sôjirô
Distribution:
Carlotta Films
5 Impasse Carrière Mainguet
75 011 Paris
France
Tel: 01 42 24 10 86
[email protected]
www.carlottavod.com
Year: 1957
Screening: 2020
DCP, Color, 110 min,
OV Japanese with French Subtitles
In feudal Japan, as civil wars are raging, Generals Washizu and Miki return to Lord Tsuzuki’s castle after defeating his enemies. They go through a mysterious forest and meet a spirit who predicts their fate: Washizu will become lord of Spider’s Web Castle but it will be Miki’s own son who will become his heir. Washizu is bewildered by this prophecy and confides in his wife, Asaji. She advises him to take his fate into his own hands by murdering Tsuzuki...
Kurosawa transposes Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, Macbeth, situating it in 16th century Japan. Indeed, the universal character of the themes dealt with in the play – the conquest of power, clan wars, treachery and revenge – can apply to Western as well as Eastern contexts. However, he opts for a typically Japanese form using the codes of the Noh drama. Also, he draws a parallel between feudal and contemporary Japan whose desire for conquest and delusion of immortality meant it lost the war. He excels in representing human madness, thus proving he is the illustrious descendant of the great British playwright.
Agat Film & Cie,
Alma Films, Depo Film
