Fun Fact: the original novel, 羅生門, is not the plot of the now famous movie adaptation. Instead, the movie actually adapted from another short story by 芥川龍之介, called 藪の中 (Yabu no naka), or translated into English: In the Grove.
However, this doesn't take away from the fact this is a momental piece of film within Japanese film (and even law) history! The work is so popular that it created the term, "Rashomon Effect," used to describe the phenomenon of unreliable eyewitnesses.
The plot of this film is split into three parts: the Bandit's story, the Samurai's wife (Wife)'s story, and the Samurai's story. Each recount their version behind how the Samurai died.
But wait, isn't the Samurai also an eyewitness? How can he recount his death? Well, his story was recounted through a Shinto Maiden who was "possessed" by the Samurai's spirit to tell how he died and who killed him. Normally, you'll think that, "Well, if the Samurai was the one who died and he has the chance to recount the story— assuming the Shinto Maiden's possession is real— then the final version has to be the truth...right?"
いいえ！！！
Because throughout this whole testimony-experience, there's also a Woodcutter who first discovered the body. After the Bandit, Wife and Samuari finished their testimony, the Woodcutter said all three were lying because when he first found the Samurai's body, he died from a sword— not the dagger. So....what is the truth? We'll never truly know...
Comments
Post a Comment