Organised by Japan House London
Japan House London’s film season ‘Windows on Mifune’, exploring the filmography of Japanese acting icon Mifune Toshirō, continues with two free screenings of Kurosawa Akira’s 'Throne of Blood’ (1957), a formidable adaptation of William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’.
Fusing classical tragedy with formal elements taken from Japanese Noh theatre, Kurosawa transposes Shakespeare’s immortal tale of ambition and deceit from 11th century Scotland to the eerie, foggy landscapes of feudal Japan.
The ruthless physicality of Mifune’s acting is particularly well-placed in his role as samurai general Washizu, the Macbeth figure who becomes progressively greedy with power driven by his wife Asaji’s (Yamada Isuzu) ploy after defeating the enemies of their leader and being prophesized success in the future by an ominous, supernatural being.
Mifune’s wild performance, his frantic, wide-eyed expressions in the rainy forest, his sharp but stylized movements convey strength, intensity, and lust for power, radiating an aura of fear to those around him as he increasingly loses control in a downward spiral of madness. His internal struggles filter through every gesture, an energetic portrayal of mania and desperation that is representative of man’s crumbling beneath the curse of glory.
As the prophecy unfolds and the tension rises, he tries to escape his fate in an epic grand finale where viewers are mesmerized by his raw, animalistic acting that, together with Kurosawa’s use of real arrows for the scene, brings a palpable, unnervingly realistic terror to the screen, marking this as one of the most unforgettable performances of his career.
This film is in Japanese with English subtitles. Duration: approx. 105 minutes. Please note that this movie is rated PG and is therefore not considered suitable for an audience younger than 8 years old unaccompanied.