Rashomon (DVD)

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Audio:

There are two primary audio tracks on the DVD: a Dolby Digital 1.0 Japanese track and a DD 1.0 English dub. For the most part, the dialogue in either track is very clear, but the sound effects (such as rain) sound a bit muted on the Japanese track when compared to the English dub. Since these are mono tracks, there is neither directionality nor bass response. Thankfully, higher frequencies don´t sound too shrill. Optional English subtitles support the audio.

Extras:

"Rashomon" is one of the most famous and most influential of Japanese films, so Criterion has released a fine DVD special edition of the movie.

There´s a video introduction by Robert Altman (director of "MASH," "Nashville," and the recent, totally overrated "Gosford Park"). Mr. Altman mentions the influence of "Rashomon" on Western filmmakers and how the film helped to establish Japanese cinema´s reputation throughout the world.

Donald Richie, a Japanese-film historian, contributes a fine audio commentary. Mr. Richie seems to know much about Japanese culture, and he discusses various cinematic methods employed in the movie as well as how "Rashomon" either conforms to classical Japanese culture or tweaks it. Also, Richie likes to talk about "triangles" a lot--meaning, triangularities of characters in groups of three. Most importantly for me, he discusses other films in Kurosawa´s oeuvre, giving me much insight into themes that the director obsessed over during his career.

There are some excerpts from "The World of Kazuo Miyagawa," a documentary about the film´s cinematographer. Mr. Miyagawa shows viewers some memorabilia from his movies, including the nameplate for the "Rashomon" gate. Already an aged man when the documentary was filmed, Miyagawa doesn´t say all that much that is "informative." Rather, he sentimentally recalls anecdotes that provide glimpses of the joy of making movies with Kurosawa.

Finally, you can watch the film´s theatrical trailer and peruse through a 26-page booklet with a mini-essay about the film by Stephen Prince, an excerpt from Kurosawa´s book "Something Like an Autobiography," two short stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa that inspired the film´s screenplay, film and DVD credits, notes about the DVD transfer, and chapter listings.

Entertainment Value:

While I appreciate the value of "Rashomon" in cinema, I feel that the catalytic event--that of the rape of the noblewoman and the death of her husband--does not create a compelling atmosphere. Also, even though the movie runs for less than 90 minutes, its pacing is rather leaden. Deliberate pacing works in magisterial projects such as Kurosawa´s "Ran," but deliberate pacing in a movie about the urgent search for truth harms the overall effect. Also, that the woodcutter and the priest would be so shocked by the lack of truth in the world strains credulity. I mean, come on, guys, is there really such a thing as "the truth"? :-)

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