Kumonosu-jô (1957)
Director:
Akira Kurosawa
Tagline:
« From the creator of “Rashomon” and “Ikiru” »
Actors:
Taketoki Washizu
Lady Asaji Washizu
Noriyasu Odagura
Yoshiteru Miki
Kunimaru Tsuzuki
Genre:
Drama
Rating:
(60’603 votes)
(60’603 votes)
Quotes:
« Lady Asaji Washizu: Admirable, my Lord. You, who would soon rule the world, allow a ghost to frighten you.
»
« Old Ghost Woman: [singing] Men are vain and death is long, And pride dies first within the grave, For hair and nails are growing still, When face and fame are gone, Nothing in this world will save, Or measure up man's actions here, Nor in the next – for there is none, This life must end in fear, Only evil may maintain, An afterlife for those who will, Who love this world – who have no son, To whom ambition calls, Even so – this false fame falls, Death will reign – man dies in vain.
»
[Morning at Cobweb castle. Washizu, armed, dozes, seated]
« Asaji attendant: My Lady!
»
[Washizu wakes with a start and looks around, bewildered. He strides into Lady Washizu's quarters, almost bumping into two frightened female attendants. He sees Lady Washizu kneeling, staring blankly out at nothing, nervously washing her hands in a bowl]
« Lady Asaji Washizu: Will it never be gone? The blood. I wash and wash, yet the blood remains – and the smell! Will my hands never again be clean?
»
« Taketori Washizu: Asaji!
»
« Lady Asaji Washizu: There is still blood. My hands. Why do they not become clean? I wash and wash, stilll they smell of blood.
»
« Taketori Washizu: Asaji!
»
Runtime:110 minutes
Plots:
A war-hardened general, egged on by his ambitious wife, works to fulfill a prophecy that he would become lord of Spider’s Web Castle.
After securing a major victory on the battlefield, Taketoti Washizu and one of his commanders, Yoshiaki Miki, find themselves lost in the maze-like Spider’s Web forest. They come across a spirit-like seer who tells them of their future: both have been promoted because of their victory that day; Washizu will someday be the Great Lord of the Spider’s Web castle while Miki’s son will someday rule as Great Lord as well. When they arrive at the castle, they learn that the first part of the prophecy is correct. Washizu has no desire to become Great Lord but his ambitious wife urges him to reconsider. When the current Great Lord makes a surprise visit to his garrison outpost, Washizu is again promoted to commander of his vanguard but his wife reminds him of the danger that comes with the position. As pressure mounts, Wahizu takes action leading to its inevitable conclusion.
After a victorious battle, two generals, Washizu and Miki, are confronted by a spirit who predicts their futures. Washizu will be promoted and will ultimately be leader of the realm. Miki will also be promoted and his son will eventually be leader of the realm. Both immediately dismiss these utterances but once they are promoted, they start to believe them. Washizu is spurred on by his ambitious, scheming wife, Asaji. When a chance comes to kill the current leader, Washizu seizes upon it.
