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  • Essay / Cinematic Elements of Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon

    This is an astonishing film that delves into conceptions of truth and justice. The film opens on the gates of Rashomon during a heavy downpour. As the camera cuts to closer shots of the building, two men appear in focus. I could feel their sadness as the camera closed in on them looking at the rain. This immediately gives the film a dark start. Most people don't like rainy days and would associate that feeling with the opening scenes. However, rain can also add a feeling of mystery or suspense. That’s what’s so amazing about Kurosawa’s use of weather in the film. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Akira's use of weather to add atmosphere to each scene was incredible. This extra layer helped the audience create an emotional connection with the film. Before this film, I never thought that weather was deliberately used in the film to help create a more dynamic scene. Akira's use of heavy rain reminded me of the iconic scene from The Notebook. Where the two lovers stand there, emotional about the end of their relationship, arguing in the rain. Ryan Gosling pulls Rachel McAdams in for a very passionate kiss. Here, the rain added a sense of urgency and romantic connotation. As a result, in both cases, the rain added a dynamic layer to their respected films. Akira's use of weather conditions as an additional moving element to capture the audience's attention and keep them captivated by the story was a true game changer. In cases like the woods where everything else was silent, the main focus of the camera was the leaves flowing in the wind. No dialogue, no action, just moving leaves, giving this calming effect. Allowing us to see the character in a peaceful state. Another scene that struck me was the testimony of the deceased through a medium. There the use of wind was more dramatic, faster and violent, matching the movements of the mediums. Adding to the disturbing, even sinister, presence of the medium as he channeled the soul of the deceased. Kurosawa's use of weather as additional layers was truly something to admire. The cinematography itself was also impressive. Throughout the film, Akira was very delicate about the direction. He constantly drew the audience's attention to the center of the frame. In the majority of scenes, movement was the focus. Like in the scene where Tajumaru runs through the entire frame of an extremely long shot. The path of horse and rider was centered with the sky and ground evenly distributed above and below them. Another example was the scene where the woodcutter was thinking about the reasoning behind their lies. He was in the center of the frame with one person on either side of him in the background. Even if it was the priest and the commoner speaking, it was the lumberjack's facial expressions that would attract the audience's attention. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Kurosawa's Rashomon had many excellent components that added fundamental layers to an incredible storyline. Creating an exceptional film to tackle a common crime and the not-so-simple process of uncovering the truth. Akira was a great director and knew how to use natural elements perfectly. Wind and rain both give multiple affectivities. Furthermore, the natural elements of human emotion,.