Summary

A bandit, a samurai, and the samurai’s wife each tell conflicting versions of the same event, with a woodcutter’s testimony complicating matters further. The film’s shifting perspectives reveal how personal bias, shame, and self-interest distort memory.

About the Author

Kurosawa was already a rising force in Japanese cinema, but Rashomon brought him critical acclaim. His use of natural light, bold framing, and layered performances gives each retelling its own psychological weight. This structure was an inspiration for countless later works exploring unreliable narrators and subjective reality.

When you should watch this

• While unpacking the complexity of truth

• If you are struggling to see someone elses perspective

• If you are stuggling to get someone to see your perspective / feeling misunderstood