TFM 363

Running head: RASHOMON ANALYSIS 1

RASHOMON ANALYSIS 3

Rashomon Analysis

Name

Institution

Title

Rashomon is the movie title under review. The movie is a 1950 Japanese Period Drama that was directed by Kurosawa Akira.

Historical/Cultural Context

Rashomon was not created in consonance with any culture. Although it was a Japanese film, it was established under an independent and international philosophical premise. The film highlighted various elements of human nature such as masculinity, femininity, reputation, and objective and subjective truth. It did not base its story on any one culture, but rather on the nature of human beings.

The Film depicts the rape of a woman and the murder of her husband, as accounted by four witnesses. It illustrates how one event can be interpreted in completely different ways by four people, or by implication, that different people can interpret the same event in very different ways.

Each witness has his or her motives and reputation to protect. Each of the four witness accounts illustrates a murder and rape, but each account shows differing methods and motives.

Personal Perspective

From the field, we can gather that humankind will lie and deceive to protect their self-interests. The four different accounts of the rape and murder are laden with partisan interests, where every individual seeks to vilify himself or herself no matter the cost. Secondly, the film demonstrates that even though there are greed and selfishness among men, there is hope for humanity, as was demonstrated by the Woodcutter’s adoption of the helpless baby.

The film also teaches that we should not accept one person’s account as the whole truth, because it is at best, part of the whole truth. It is only by taking all things into consideration that we can come up with our perceived truth.

References

Ahmed, K. (2011). Remakes As Vehicles Of Discovery: An Analysis Of Rashômon And The Outrage.Aesthetics Of The Mind. Retrieved 7 August 2015, from https://aestheticsofthemind.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/remakes-as-vehicles-of-discovery-an-analysis-of-rashomon-and-the-outrage/

Redfren, N. (2015). Film style and narration in Rashomon. Academia.edu. Retrieved 7 August 2015, from https://www.academia.edu/3241863/Film_style_and_narration_in_Rashomon

Richie, D. (1998). The films of Akira Kurosawa. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press.