Epic drama

Rating: 8/10 (17 October 2015)

Epic drama.
Set in Japan in the 16th century (or so), an elderly warlord retires, handing over his empire to his three sons. However, he vastly underestimates how the new-found power will corrupt them, or cause them to turn on each other...and him...
Directed by famed Japanese director Akira Kurasawa (Seven Samurai, Rashomon, Yojimbo), this is a grand, sweeping tale of family betrayal and lust for power. Based on Shakespeare's King Lear but even if you weren't familiar with that work, you can spot the Shakespearean aspects - the family feud, the Machiavellian power plays, the plots and counter-plots, the tragic twists, often from seemingly arbitrary events.
Not perfect though. The story could have been tighter - there are a few sub-plots which don't really add anything to the story and just prolong it unnecessarily. Some plot developments aren't explained very well either. And I could have done without the irritating court jester (more like court cynic) character...