“Ran” translated means “chaos” or “revolt”.
It is not for nothing that Kurosawa assigns the Fool the task of narrating the “meaning” behind this tale. The tale being one that exams the human condition sans blinders. You either turn it into a punch line or the terrible deeds [eventually] drive you insane.
Unless, of course, it is you who are committing them. But, as always, this meaning rings more or less true as dasein.
[Note: You can turn off the sound and the subtitles and marvel only in the film making itself. It is a visual feast. The sacking of the castle alone is extraordinary.]
RAN [1985]
Directed by Akira Kurosawa
[b]Kyoami: Man is born crying. When he has cried enough, he dies.
…
Hidetora: I am lost…
Kyoami: Such is the human condition.
Hidetora: This path…I remember…We came this way before.
Kyoami: Men always travel the same road. If you’re tired of it, jump!
…
Hidetora: What madness have I spoken? Wherein lies my senility?
Saburo: I’ll tell you. What kind of world do we live in? One barren of loyalty and feeling.
Hidetora: I’m aware of that.
Saburo: So you should be! You spilled an ocean of blood. You showed no mercy, no pity. We too are children of this age… weaned on strife and chaos. We are your sons, yet you count on our fidelity. In my eyes, that makes you a fool. A senile old fool!
…
Saburo: What misery!
Tango: What will you do now?
Saburo: I grieve for Father, not myself. The horror ahead of him…
…
Lady Kaede: …the banner My lord it belongs with the head of the house of Ichimonji.
Taro: But Father is keeping his title and insignia.
Lady Kaede: Without them, you are a shadow.
Taro: What do you mean? He made it clear that I am now in command.
Lady Kaede: In that case behave as if you are.
…
Lady Kaede: I was born and raised in this castle. It belonged to my father. I left it to marry you. My father and brothers, after the marriage relaxed their vigilance. Hidetora murdered them. Now I am back in my family castle. How I have longed for this day.[/b]
But for another day even more.
[b]Jiro: Don’t lick your chops yet. Taro is easy pickings. He is a weakling. His wife, Lady Kaede, is another story.
…
Hidetora [to Lady Sue]: Still the same sad face. When I see you it breaks my heart. It’s worse when you smile. I burned down your castle and your father and mother perished. And you look at me like that. Look upon me with hatred. It would be easier to bear. Go on, hate me!
Lady Sue: I don’t hate you. All is decided in our previous lives. The Buddha embraces all things.
Hidetora: Buddha again!
…
Tango: Is he mad?
Kyoami: And better off for it. In a mad world only the mad are sane.
…
Tango: He is himself again!
Kyoami: More’s the pity. He is better off mad.
…
Kurogane: Lord Jiro feels it unwise to keep you in his service. Men who betray one master may betray another. A reasonable point of view.
…
Lady Kaede: Lord Kurogane, at the Second Castle there is a supply of salt?
Lord Kurogame: Of course, why?
Lady Kaede: When you bring back her head salt it first. Otherwise, in this heat we’ll be unable to look at it. Lady Sue is so beautiful it would be ungracious to her.
…
Hidetora: What is this place?
Kyoami: Paradise!
…
Kurogame: There are many foxes hereabouts. It is said they take human form. Take care, my lord. Beware. They often impersonate women. In Central Asia a fox seduced King Pan Tsu and made him kill men. In China he married King Yu and ravaged the land. In Japan, as Princess Tamamo he caused great havoc at court. He became a white fox with nine tails. Then they lost trace of him. Some people say he has settled down [pointing in the direction of Lady Kaede] here.
…
Kyoami: I was the fool and made you laugh. Now the coin is flipped. Don’t be mute, say something. You speak nonsense, I’ll speak truth. We’ll see what comes of it.
…
Hidetora: I’m a worm, don’t crush me!
Kyoami: Who’d bother to crush a worm?!
…
Hidetora: He is dead. You and I live, but Saburo…you can’t die!
…
Tango: It doesn’t seem possible. He isn’t here to share this. Hidetora is also gone. Why?
Kyoami: Are there no gods, no Buddha? If you exist, hear me! You are mischievous and cruel! Are you so bored up there you must crush us like ants? Is it such fun to see men weep?
Tango: Enough! Do not blaspheme! It is the gods who weep. They see us killing each other over and over since time began. They can’t save us from ourselves. Don’t cry! It’s how the world is made. Men prefer sorrow over joy…suffering over peace.[/b]
Then that haunting final scene: a blind Tsurumaru at the abyss, the image of Buddha, the flute, the dirge.