WU Cinema Presents: Akira Kurosawa’s Ran

“Spectacular! Among the most thrilling movie experiences a viewer can have!” – Terrance Rafferty, The New York Times

1985. Japan. Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Written by Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni, Masato Ide. With Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Mieko Harada. In Japanese; English subtitles. 35mm. 162 min.

28 years after Throne of Blood, Akira Kurosawa again turned to Shakespeare for inspiration, reimagining King Lear as an epic drama of power and betrayal in feudal Japan. The great Tatsuya Nakadai stars as an elderly warlord who attempts to retire by handing his domain over to his three sons, only to find that his moral authority has vanished along with his empire. Ran is one of the last great screen spectacles, with epic battle scenes, including a final confrontation filmed on Mount Fuji, all made without the aid of digital special effects. Named Best Foreign Film of the Year by the New York Film Critics Circle and Best Film of the Year by the National Society of Film Critics, RAN was also Oscar-nominated for Best Director, Cinematography, and Art Direction, with Emi Wada winning for her dazzling, three-years-in-the-making costumes.

Unless otherwise noted, admission is:

Free for Washington University students with proper ID.

$7 for the general public
$5 for seniors, Washington University alumni and students from other schools
$4 for Washington University staff and faculty

We offer general admission seating with payment of cash or credit.

Note: Last-minute changes may occur.