Aaron Wolff
Mrs. Kolb
Introduction to film
2 March 2026
Rashmon was quite boring to me especially the repeat of the scenes. While the scenes were
technically different it felt repeated. And the rhythm of the movie just felt drawn out but that may
be just me. However the meaning behind it was intresting. Because of how it showed people
behave when they search for the truth they want. The multiple ways which different people tell
the same story about a samurai murder and his wife assault made me realize how different people
view and recall events. The film presented slow parts which I found boring but I valued the
experience because it challenges the understanding of how actual events have been recorded
throughout history. The character’s story presentation showed that they wanted to present
themselves in a better light while their actions needed to be explained. The bandit used the wife
and the dead samurai through the medium to create a story which presented his personal
viewpoint and emotions. People use falsehoods because they want to deceive others but they also
use them because they need to defend themselves from shameful situations which they cannot
handle. It points out how people form their own personal truth through their emotions which
include their fear and pride and self-serving motives. I found the movie difficult to watch at
times but I discovered that Kurosawa used film to express his concepts which helped me
understand his work better. The director used shadows and rain and different camera angles to
create multiple ways of viewing the same scene. The film created viewer uncertainty because its
storytelling progressed at a slow pace. The message which the medium conveys explains thattruth exists as a complex and personal experience. And while I do think that the last view of what
happened was the closest even then we know he lied some.