Ran

The Spoils of War A stunning and beautiful(both visually and narratively) look at family, war, values, betrayal, and 16th century feudal Japan through the lens of a near-blind director. Every single thing is intentional. The reactions of every character when they receive news, the historical accuracy, the color palettes. Not a moment was wasted on the conversations, not a word was left unsaid. Rather than cut the camera for convenience, Kurosawa allowed for important conversations to be drawn out, detailed, and depicted like it is real life. When dealing with a collapsing empire, there is no room for quick conversation.  The story is deep and philosophical, dealing with themes of nihilism, family values, ambition, and violence. Truly a once in a lifetime film, a sprawling epic that every person should do themselves the pleasure of viewing.