Praise for Mieko Harada

Rating: 8/10 (8 February 2002)

I just rented the DVD of "Ran" and, despite the poor picture quality of the DVD transfer, I was once again knocked out by Mieko Harada. I don't think I've seen the film since I originally saw it in 1985 but Miss Harada's performance has stayed with me all these years. Lady Kaede is certainly a great role and she throws herself into it completely. As for the film itself, Kurosawa's epic story manages to survive the film's overly long running time and preoccupation with stage blood. It's worth the price of rental just to watch Harada's Lady Kaede bully, seduce, and out-wit her male counterparts. A truly great performance.