RAN (Chaos)

The culmination of Akira Kurosawa's (“Rashomon,” “The Seven Samurai,” “Kagemusha”) lifework, RAN is a majestic, humanistic epic, Japan's most costly film. Kurosawa was inspired by an ancient Japanese legend as well as “King Lear” to create RAN, 10 years in the making. Aging war lord Hidetora (Tatsuya Nakadai, “Kagemusha”) divides his land among his 3 sons but exiles and disinherits the youngest for not supporting his decision. The older sons betray their father and each other in ruthless intrigues and ferocious battles that leave Hidetora a repentant, wandering madman. RAN's spectacular, deep-focus images and unforgettable moments of cinema include a hauntingly scored, silent massacre and Mieko Harada's panther-like leap in an erotic seduction at daggerpoint.