STUDIOCANAL is proud to announce that Akira Kurosawa’s Oscar and BAFTA award-winning RAN will return to UK cinemas on June 27 to mark the 40th anniversary of the master filmmaker’s final film.
An exclusive 40th Anniversary Collector’s Edition will be available to own from July 21. This special four-disc edition comes complete with a host of extras-material including the breath-taking soundtrack composed by Tôru Takemitsu (Harakiri) and a 100-page booklet.
STUDIOCANAL has commissioned the acclaimed artist Sterling Hundley to create the stunning new artwork that accompanies the film’s anniversary release and which effectively pays homage to the film’s iconic visuals via Hundley’s distinct style.
RAN (which translates as ‘turmoil’) is Akira Kurosawa’s profound exploration of Shakespeare’s King Learintertwined with the historical backdrop of Japan’s 16th century Civil Wars and the legendary tale of Morikawa, a feudal warlord with three sons. Kurosawa’s final film was immediately recognised as a masterpiece upon its release and garnered numerous awards, including the Oscar for Best Costume Design and BAFTA awards for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Makeup.
Hidetora Ichimonji (Tatsuya Nakadai – Yojimbo, Kagemusha) is an ageing warlord who, after spending his life consolidating his empire, decides to abdicate and divide his kingdom amongst his three sons, Taro (Akira Terao – Letter from the Mountain, Dreams), Jiro (Jinpachi Nezu – The Man in White, Red Shadow: Akakage) and Saburo (Daisuke Ryû – Tono monogatari, Gojo reisenki: Gojoe).
When Hidetora’s youngest son Saburo voices concerns about the wisdom of his father’s plan, claiming that treachery within the family will be inevitable, Hidetora mistakes these comments for a threat and banishes him. This allows Taro and Jiro to take the reins of power unopposed, leading to a brutal and bloody struggle to win absolute power.
Majestic in scope, RAN is a profound examination of the folly of war and the crumbling of one family under the weight of betrayal, greed and the insatiable thirst for power.
40TH ANNIVERSARY 4K COLLECTOR’S EDITION
UHD and BD / Original soundtrack / 100-page booklet / 2 posters / Fully illustrated packaging by acclaimed artist Sterling Hundley.
EXTRAS
Feature UHD + Feature BD
[Disc 1 + Disc 2]
Ran: The Restoration
Bonus BD [Disc 3]
A.K. documentary
Akira Kurosawa: The Epic and The Intimate
Interview with director of photography Shoji Ueda
The Art of the Samurai
Interview with Michael Brooke
Interview with Ms Mieko Harada
Stage Appearance at Tokyo FIlm Festival 2015
Akira Kurosawa by Catherine Cadou.
The Samurai
Running time: 160mins / Certificate: 12A
The Restoration
In 2015 RAN was meticulously restored in digital 4K by French laboratory Éclair under STUDIOCANAL and Kadokawa Pictures‘ supervision. Based on an original negative, the majority of the restoration work was carried out manually, image by image.
The restoration’s colour grading was approved by Masaharu Ueda, one of the three cinematographers who worked on RAN and were nominated for an Academy Award, BAFTA and other awards for their work. As there has previously been some disagreement about the considerably varying colour palettes of the film’s various DVD and Blu-ray releases, it can be hoped that with Ueda’s involvement in the restoration process, a definitive digital transfer has been created which closely matches the original intentions of Kurosawa and his cinematographers.
Akira Kurosawa
Akira Kurosawa (1910–1998) was a legendary Japanese filmmaker, widely regarded as one of cinema’s most influential directors. With a career spanning over five decades, he directed masterpieces such as Rashomon (1950), Seven Samurai (1954), and Ikiru(1952). Kurosawa’s dynamic storytelling, innovative editing, and deep humanism shaped both Japanese cinema and inspired global filmmakers including George Lucas and Martin Scorsese. Known for blending Western and Eastern themes, he elevated samurai films to an art form. His legacy continues to resonate, making him a towering figure in world cinema. Kurosawa remains a symbol of visionary storytelling and cinematic mastery.
