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Rashomon (NR, 1951)

common sense media says

Masterpiece about absolute truth. Best for teens.

parents & educators say
  • 50% say sexual content is an issue
See all 5 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this movie is a psychologically and morally complex tale of a trial to determine who is at fault for a murder and possible rape. The rape is not depicted onscreen, but is discussed openly. The murder is rendered somewhat realistic, though without gratuitous bleeding or goriness.

Positive messages: All characters are shown to have some level of sinister motivations.
Violence: Sword fighting and a killing. The film revolves around a bandit on trial for raping a young woman.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Rashomon

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about the potential fallibility of the legal system in relation to absolute truth. What factors do you think played a role in the credibility of one witness's account over another? Have you ever been in a situation when you heard two different accounts of the same event? Which version did you believe? Why? How was it resolved?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In director Akira Kurosawa's RASHOMON, a man is murdered in the woods following the rape of his wife by a bandit. At the trial, the bandit, the wife, a medium channeling the murdered man, and a woodcutter who had been hiding in the woods all recount different versions of the story. The movie works to expose the near impossibility of finding absolute truth in the world, rather than condemn any one. At the end, the woodcutter acts to redeem himself, punctuating the narrative with a sense of hope.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Rashomon was the film that brought Akira Kurosawa, and many would say Japanese cinema, to international renown. It's a true cinematic masterpiece. Kurosawa's direction is magnificent, structuring the film to clearly give each version of the story its own space while maintaining its connection with the other versions. Toshiro Mifune as the nearly spastic bandit is a pleasure to watch.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: New Line
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Cast: Machiko Kyo, Masayuki Mori, Toshiro Mifune
Genre: Drama
Run time: 88 minutes
Theatrical release: December 26, 1951
DVD release: March 26, 2002
MPAA Rating: NR
This review was written by David Gurney
 
 

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What parents & educators say

14
Based on 4 parent & educator reviews:
  • 50% say sexual content is an issue
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

moviemogul
adult
 
An amazing movie...
I watched this movie on TCM one night, and all I can say is that it was incredible. If you are a teen or up, go watch this movie-- it comes highly reccommended.
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masterofthemovies
adult
13
 
teens will (hopefully) enjoy while kids wont understand the message
THIS FILM HAS NO VIOLENCE. (on screen) it all takes place within the imagination. The main thing that makes it for 13 year olds, is that it has a lot of talking and the ideas that it spreads.
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october1985
adult
12
 
The movie came out in 1950, so they could not put anything very bad content-wise. There is talk of a rape that happened and some mild violence. Anyone 12 and over can handle it. Though they would probably be bored.
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mooneym1
parent of 17 year old
16
 
Shocking treatment of rape victim by all concerned.
The major problem with this movie is the assumption, shared by all the characters, that a woman who is raped becomes defiled by this, that she is no longer worthy of being married, that her husband can reject her and that, really, she should do the decent thing and kill herself. It might be best to go along prepared to discuss this afterwards, rather than the somewhat dated use of the unreliable narrator.
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who3697cares
teen, 18 years old
16
 
The main flaw is director Akira Kurosawa's sentimentality. The philosophy behind the story would seem to be that all the characters are telling the truth, despite the unlikeliness of that, However, Kurosawa turns it into "everybody lies". Nice try, but it didn't fit in here. Otherwise this is really great. The only Kurosawa films I would place above it are Ikiru, Throne of Blood, and Ran.
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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
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