Rashomon (1950, dir. Akira Kurosawa)

Akira Kurosawa established a unique cinematic voice with his many films and is probably the most famous of 20th century Japanese directors.  "Rashomon" is one of his most well-known films and with it, the director laid new foundations in the nature of cinematic narrative.

Based on a novel, the film tells the story of a murdered man.  But, Kurosawa doesn't resort to a straight retelling of one man's killing.  Instead he offers a totally original concept in which the murder is retold from a variety of different perspectives.  The film is in fact, a thematic exploration on the nature of subjectivity and how the past is often distorted in its remembering and retelling.  No one has one true point of view, after all, and objectivity is often questionable.

The murder is retold in a trial through a series of flashbacks by the murdered man's wife, an infamous bandit who may or may not be responsible, and the murdered man himself (interestingly, through a medium).  On top of that, the trial itself is retold through the use of additional flashbacks by witnesses to the trial.  So there is a very interesting dynamic and a complex texture to the nature of the narrative which the filmmaker exploits in the most fascinating way. 

The film at times seems dated and many of the mannerisms of the mid-20th century Japan look and sound weird from modern day viewing perspectives.  There is for example, a tendency by many of the characters to laugh maniacally very frequently.  These maniacal laughs are downright annoying and strange (actor Toshiro Mifune is adept at this mannerism) but it doesn't detract too much from the overall enjoyment of the film.

"Rashomon" is a very influential film and would inspire countless directors and films after its release in 1950.  Its unique narrative structure offers a fascinating glimpse into the possibilities of cinema and is a testament to true originality in film-making.