Kumonosu-jô

Year: 1957
Country: Japan
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Cast: Toshirô Mifune, Isuzu Yamada, Takashi Shimura, Akira Kubo, Hiroshi Tachikawa, Minoru Chiaki
Genre: drama, adventure
Runtime: 110 min.
Age: 16+
Akira Kurosawa's classic adaptation of the Shakespearean tragedy «Macbeth» translates the events and characters to historical Japan.
After securing a major victory on the battlefield, Taketoti Washizu and one of his commanders, Yoshiaki Miki, find themselves lost in a forest. They come across a spirit-like seer who tells them of their future: both have been promoted because of their victory that day; Washizu will someday be the Great Lord of the Spider's Web castle while Miki's son will someday rule as Great Lord as well. When they arrive at the castle, they learn that the first part of the prophecy is correct. Washizu has no desire to become Great Lord but his ambitious wife urges him to reconsider.  So he decides to ensure his ascendancy to power by murdering the current ruler. As with Macbeth, Washizu achieves his goal, but his guilt and the suspicions of others soon bring about his downfall. 

Awards & Festivals:

Venice Film Festival – participation
Mainichi Film Concours – Best Actor, Best Art Direction
Kinema Junpo Award – Best Actress