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The Movie:
A classic of cinema and one of famed director Akira Kurosawa’s most well-regarded pictures, "Rashomon" also seems to have been an influence for some modern tales, most notably director Edward Zwick's 1996 picture "Courage Under Fire". In the case of "Rashomon", a rape/murder has occured and we are shown the testimony of four individuals who have very differing stories about what actually occured deep in the wooded forest.
It certainly seems as if the process would be simple, but as often is with human nature, nothing is as it seems. Given the differing opinions, one of the four has to be lying - but who to trust? Given the fact that all of them seem to be straightforward, it's hard to know who to trust. Over the course of the movie, details are carefully offered to the audience, changing our opinion of what really could have happened, but still leaving us unsure of the real answer.
Why "Rashomon" engages the viewer so masterfully is not only due the finely crafted story and characters, but the performances (especially Toshiro Mifune) and the amazing camerawork. Every frame of the film is stunningly composed, with interesting framing of characters and intense, yet appropriate camera movement. "Rashomon" still stands up quite perfectly today; it remains easy to appreciate the intricate story, the powerful acting and the beautiful black and white imagery. And still today, the truth isn't always readily available.
The DVD
VIDEO: Criterion presents the film in 1.33:1 full-frame which is the film's original aspect ratio. This is a new high-definition transfer created from a 35mm fine-grain master positive on a high-definition Spirit Datacine. Criterion also used the MTI restortation system to remove many instances of dirt and other debris on the print used. That said, the black and white image does look very good considering the age of the picture. Sharpness and detail are generally just okay; the picture doesn't appear well-defined and sharp, but certainly doesn't ever appear hazy or blurry, either.
While the MTI restoration system has been used, the print is still not free of flaws. Specks, some marks and other instances of light wear are still visible, although I'm sure they are less apparent here than they were on previous editions of the film. Pixelation and edge enhancement are not seen. The picture does have nice contrast and while I've seen other films from the same time period look better, Criterion likely did as well as they could with the source elements for this picture.
SOUND: The audio has been remastered in 24-bit from the original audio magnetic tracks. The booklet also notes that some restoration has been done to the audio. The audio certainly isn't terrible, but it is not as pleasing as the picture quality. There is a constant background hiss that, while not hugely irritating, does become a bit of a bother at times. The music sounds shrill and rather tinny and dialouge can either sound just okay or rough. The film is presented in Japanese with optional English subtitles. I was a bit surprised though, to find an additional optional English dubbed track.
MENUS: The background of the main and sub-menus are similar to the cover art; slight animation (and the score) are present, as well. While not flashy, it's appropriate.
EXTRAS:
Commentary: Japanese film historian Donald Richie provides a full-length discussion of the picture on this commentary track. The chat by Richie can be a little too serious at times, but he does offer a strong amount of information on the film's production and style. A few stretches focused a bit much on the on-screen events, but overall, I thought this was an enjoyable track that I learned a good deal from.
Also: There is a very informative and interesting 6-minute introduction from director Robert Altman; excerpts from The World of Kazuo Miyagawa, a documentary on the master cinematographer and a terrific booklet that has essays and excerpts from the director's bio.
Final Thoughts: "Rashomon" combines a marvelously constructed story, terrific acting and bold cinematography; it's masterpiece that demands repeat viewing. Criterion has done their best to offer a fine DVD edition; while the sound can be a bit troubling, the picture quality and supplements are first-rate. Highly Recommended.
Film Grade
The Film ****
DVD Grades
Video 86/B
Audio: 79/C+
Extras: 84/B
Menus: 85/B
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