Ran

See Akira Kurosawa’s Academy Award-winning retelling of William Shakespeare’s tragedy King Lear in beautiful 4K.

During the Sengoku period in Japan, ageing and war-weary ruler Lord Hidetora decides it is time to peacefully divide his hard-won kingdom between his three sons. But he underestimates how they will use their new power, and ruthless ambition emerges between them, spurned on by their scheming advisers. It’s not long before the sons turn on their father and themselves.

Curator’s Note

With its title translating to “chaos” in English, Akira Kurosawa’s final epic – sweeping in vision, ambition and scope – is anything but chaotic. What could be an overly complex narrative in the hands of another filmmaker, is presented with crystalline clarity by Kurosawa, aided by Academy Award-winning costume design that masterfully guides its audience visually through plot twists and turns.

Inspired by William Shakespeare’s King Lear, the film marks Kurosawa’s third Shakespearean adaptation following the Macbeth-inspired Throne of Blood and The Bad Sleep Well, which drew upon Hamlet.

Today, Ran is considered one of the greatest Japanese films of all time.