Ran

Ran, or Chaos, is probably the most fitting title this film could have. It doesn’t just describe the story, it really captures the feeling of the entire film. Before even talking about the plot, it doesn’t surprise me at all that Akira Kurosawa used to be a painter. The film feels like a true piece of art. Every frame is carefully composed. Perfection is probably the closest word for it. And at the same time, it’s not a beautiful film in any traditional sense. It’s brutal, uncomfortable, and it shows people at their absolute worst. It’s about power, and more importantly, the greed for it. The characters don’t make mistakes by accident they choose it. They betray their own father, go to war with each other, and destroy everything just to gain more power for themselves. The main character spent his entire life the same way. And when he finally steps away from it, nothing really changes. His sons want exactly what he once had, and they’re willing to do the same things to get it. His madness feels less like madness and more like realization. He understands what he built, and he sees himself reflected in it. War here doesn’t feel heroic or meaningful. It feels empty. Just people killing each other for something that ultimately means nothing. There are barely any truly good people in this film. And the few who try to do the right thing don’t survive. In a mad world, only the mad are sane.