Rialto Pictures has unveiled a new trailer for the 40th-anniversary re-release of Ran, Akira Kurosawa’s legendary medieval epic, set to hit theaters starting May 2025. This restored version of the 1985 classic, widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, will be presented in pristine 4K quality, offering audiences a chance to experience the film’s visual magnificence in an even more breathtaking form. The film will be shown in select art-house cinemas across the U.S. and Canada throughout the summer, making this a rare opportunity to view the masterpiece on the big screen once again.
Ran is a monumental work by Kurosawa, one of the greatest directors in film history, and it represents the pinnacle of his filmmaking prowess. A reimagining of Shakespeare’s King Lear, Ran transposes the iconic play’s themes of power, betrayal, and familial conflict into the context of medieval Japan. The story revolves around the elderly warlord Hidetora Ichimonji, who decides to divide his vast kingdom among his three sons. However, his decision leads to a tragic series of events as greed, jealousy, and corruption destroy the family and the empire he fought to build. The film explores the catastrophic consequences of human folly, as the characters’ actions and decisions ripple out in a devastating domino effect.
The film’s visual style is one of the most striking aspects of Ran, and the newly restored 4K version amplifies this. Kurosawa’s use of sweeping landscapes, meticulously choreographed battle sequences, and vibrant color symbolism creates a world teetering on the brink of chaos. The intense reds, yellows, and blues that define the film’s palette are now even more vivid, giving the film a new level of visual power that underscores its tragic story. The battle scenes, many of which are among the most epic in cinema history, become even more striking in this high-definition format, capturing the emotional and physical turmoil of war in unprecedented detail.
The restoration of Ran was overseen by Studiocanal in collaboration with the Japanese company Kadokawa. The original negative was painstakingly restored by the French laboratory Éclair, with the majority of the work being done manually, frame by frame. The film’s original cinematographers, including Masaharu Ueda, were involved in approving the color grading for this new 4K version. This restoration is not merely a technical feat, but a reverent return to the film’s original vision, ensuring that Ran is presented in the best possible form for both longtime fans and new audiences.
The stellar cast of Ran includes Tatsuya Nakadai as the tragic warlord Hidetora, with Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryu, and Mieko Harada rounding out the ensemble. Nakadai’s performance as Hidetora is one of the most memorable in film history, capturing the internal and external devastation wrought by the character’s decisions. Kurosawa’s direction, combined with the strength of the performances, creates a deeply emotional experience that transcends the historical setting to speak to universal themes of power, family, and tragedy.
The film was initially a French-Japanese collaboration and is a part of Kurosawa’s final trilogy of films, following Kagemusha (1980) and preceding Dreams (1990). The 40th-anniversary re-release of Ran is a fitting tribute to the late director’s cinematic legacy and offers a rare chance to witness one of the most important films ever made on the big screen.
Studiocanal and Kadokawa’s decision to bring Ran back to theaters in a 4K version is part of a broader movement to preserve and restore classic films, ensuring that they remain accessible to contemporary audiences. This re-release is a reminder of the timeless power of Kurosawa’s filmmaking and the enduring impact of Ran on the world of cinema.
Ran will be released in select U.S. and Canadian theaters starting May 23, 2025, and will continue to play through the summer. For those who appreciate great cinema, this is an unmissable opportunity to experience Akira Kurosawa’s masterwork in a format that does justice to its grandeur and emotional depth. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or discovering the film for the first time, the 4K restoration of Ran will undoubtedly be an unforgettable cinematic experience.
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