Conflict in the Movie Ran

There is a little bit of epic history in all of us deep down we strive to see action packed scenes that entertain us to the mere brink of ecstasy. Ran by Akira Kurosawa is one of his greatest epic tales ever told on the big screen. A budget of over 20$ million dollar was spent on this movie making it the most expensive Japanese movie ever. The story of Ran follows the Shakespeare classic King Lear. The uniqueness of this film is that it follows a samurai background instead of the medieval European classics. Some argue that Ran is better than King Lear making it one of the most compelling films of it's time.

The major conflict that the entire film is centered around is very clear after watching the first opening scenes of the movie. The head of the Ichimonji clan is Hidetora Ichimonji played by Tatsuya Nakadai who is the protagonist of this epic film. The conflict occurs when Hidetora splits his kingdom into three giving up his superior role as main ruler of the Ichimonji Empire to his eldest son Taro Tokatora played by Akira Terao. The three castles of the kingdom, the first, second and third, are then split to Taro, Jiro Masatora played by Jinpachi Nezu, and Saburo Naotora played by Daisuka Rye. The entire epic follows the conflict that occurs between the power struggles of the three brothers. At first there is little that they feel that needs to be struggled upon, but when the second brother gets greedy is kills his older brother. The entire empire suffers while the different brothers kill off their enemies while at the same time ostracizing their father from the kingdom.

His sons exile the protagonist Hidetora from his own kingdom, but somehow in the process of seeing his life flash before his eyes he is driven into madness. In this state of madness the two loyal people who stay by the Great King's side no matter what try to hide him from the brothers. The antagonists of the film come in two parts due in part that we see different character's stories throughout this epic. The two eldest brothers are the main antagonists of the film because of their harshness against their own father. The minor antagonist is the youngest of the sons, Saburo, because he argues with his father at the start of the film which leads the viewer on to believe that he will be the bad guy. In fact, this argument is well stated because it becomes truth and the role of Saburo is reversed.

The background of the second oldest son comes from a man who has to bow before his older brother because he is a little older than him. Hatred drives him to the brink where he commits murder for bloodthirsty revenge and power. The backdrop of the different brothers all carries a unique appeal to it because although they are all brothers they treat one another like complete strangers near the end of the film. The main event that happens to split the brotherhood is that they all become blinded by power. With an army assigned to each of the power hungry brothers they do not mind going to combat for just a little more of that power. Each brother has had a taste of power that leads him forward to seek more of this power. This drive for power creates a war between the brothers that culminates into one large battle where every son is slain. Once every son is slain the Great King still alive is overcome with grief before he dies holding his youngest son in his arms.

The entire Ichimonji Empire is destroyed because of the King's desire to pass on his power. That fact that the three brothers were all human striving power created a rift within the family that was unexpected. The King expected his sons to act like sons instead of power hungry lords. Saburo warned the King near the beginning of the film, but he did not take heed to his warning resulting in the downfall of the entire empire. A resolution to this conflict is never met in the true sense of one son becoming sole leader of the empire. All hope is lost for the empire because there is no one left to rule it. The entire kingdom is not wiped out by outside invaders, but internally by conflict within the powerful heads.