Shakespeare's King Lear is reimagined as a singular historical epic set in sixteenth-century Japan where an aging warlord divides his kingdom between his three sons.

Guillermo del Toro#1tie
William Tyler#6

Paul Feig

#7

Joel Potrykus#8

Hossein Amini#9

Credits

Crew

DirectorAkira Kurosawa

WriterAkira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni, Masato Ide

CinematographerAsakazu Nakai, Shôji Ueda, Takao Saitō

ComposerToru Takemitsu

EditorAkira Kurosawa

ProducerMasato Hara, Serge Silberman

Cast

Tatsuya Nakadaias Lord Hidetora Ichimonji

Akira Teraoas Taro Takatora Ichimonji

Jinpachi Nezuas Jiro Masatora Ichimonji

Daisuke Ryūas Saburo Naotora Ichimonji

Mieko Haradaas Lady Kaede

Yoshiko Miyazakias Lady Sue

Mansai Nomuraas Tsurumaru

Hisashi Igawaas Shuri Kurogane

Shinnosuke Ikehataas Kyoami

Masayuki Yuias Tango Hirayama

Kazuo Katōas Kageyu Ikoma

Norio Matsuias Shumenosuke Ogura

Toshiya Itoas Mondo Naganuma

Heihachiro Suzukias Fujimaki's General

Kenji Kodamaas Samon Shirane

Haruko Tōgōas Kaede's lady in waiting

Reiko Nanjoas Hideota's concubine

Tokie Kandaas Sue's lady in waiting

Sawako Kochias Hidetora's concubine

Kumeko Otowaas Sue's lady in waiting

Double Feature

Streaming now, and why it pairs with this film

High and Low1963

Both on Guillermo del Toro’s Top 10, both directed by Akira Kurosawa, and both starring Tatsuya Nakadai

Or

Throne of Blood1957Both on Guillermo del Toro’s Top 10, and both directed by Akira Kurosawa
Yojimbo1961Both directed by Akira Kurosawa, and both starring Tatsuya Nakadai

Related Films

via Criterion Collection

Hamlet

1948

Rashomon

1950

Throne of Blood

1957

Articles

via Criterion Collection

Ran: Apocalypse SongMichael Wilmington — Nov 22, 2005
From the Kurosawa ArchivesMar 23, 2017
Kurosawa in TorontoJun 23, 2016