For this film, Japan’s greatest director turned to Shakespeare for inspiration and chose to film a Japanese adaptation of King Lear.
Set in 16th century Japan, RAN (the Japanese character for fury, revolt, madness and chaos) begins as an aging warlord who has acquired power through 50 years of ruthless bloodshed, announces his intention to divide the kingdom among his three sons, each of whom will live at one of three outlying castles. With sibling conflicts growing, events culminate in a spectacular and tragic finale.
Cinéma de Sève (Concordia University)