☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Throne of Blood (1957) – A. Kurosawa
Kurosawa filmed
his version of MacBeth as a horror movie, shrouded in fog, with Toshiro Mifune
haunted by his own demons – as well as a Japanese-styled evil spirit who offers
the prophecy that leads both Washizu/MacBeth and Miki/Banquo (Minoru Chiaki) to
their doom. Transferring the Scottish play to Shogun-era Japan works well, even
if (or especially because) Kurosawa’s rendering is more visual than verbal. The
quickly-cut shots of the leads galloping through the woods around the castle
are splendid and reminiscent of similar shots in Seven Samurai, whereas the scenes
with armies riding and marching in procession foreshadow Ran’s grander tapestry.
As in Ran, the horror here is personal, drawn from Shakespeare’s insight into
human weakness and, although the famous lines are absent, the twisted effects
of the lust for power are just as palpable in the fates of Washizu and Lady Washizu
(Isuzu Yamada). Dark and noirish but oh so Japanese in its flavour.
No comments:
Post a Comment