Tiff

Akira Kurosawa’s Throne of Blood, or Kumonosu-jo, is also based on one of Shakespeare’s plays. Released in 1957, it takes its inspiration from Macbeth, which is about a general of King Duncan of Scotland’s army. After a battle, Macbeth is with his friend and fellow general Banquo. They are apprehended in the forest by three witches who hail Macbeth by three titles: Thane of Glamis (current), Thane of Cawdor (unknown) and future King (also unknown to Macbeth). Subsequently it is revealed that Banquo will bear a line of kings, but he will never be king himself. As it turns out, through a clandestine plot to dethrone the king, the former Thane of Cawdor was disowned, his land and property falling to Macbeth. He sees that the first prophecy has been proven true, and logically, the others gain credibility. Arriving at his home, we meet the famous Lady Macbeth, who urges her husband to take what is rightfully his by killing King Duncan. It must be noted that Macbeth is himself not without blame. The witches very skillfully planted the seed of power in his brain. If it seems that the body count in King Lear was high, keep in mind that Macbeth is solely responsible for every death in this play. After killing Duncan, Macbeth is named the king. Desperately trying to hold onto his new-found position, he tries to have both Banquo and his son Fleance killed, but only the man is killed while the boy escapes with his life. At a banquet Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost and becomes even more paranoid. He visits the witches again who give three warnings: beware Macduff (another thane), no one born of a woman will be able to kill Macbeth, and Macbeth will not be defeated until he sees the forest advancing on his fortress. Macbeth views the last two options as completely impossible and therefore is assured that he will retain his kingship. Macduff is in England and not seen as a threat, but just to make sure, Macbeth has everyone of Macduff’s house murdered, including his innocent wife and young son. The reason Macduff is in England is because he is visiting with the rightful heir to the Scottish throne, who fled with his brother when their father was killed. They figure out who is behind all of the carnage and eventually launch an attack against Macbeth. In one very busy last act, Lady Macbeth expires (driven mad by her guilt?), the army advancing on Macbeth cuts down the trees of the forest to cloak themselves so that it appears the forest is moving closer and closer, and Macduff reveals that he was delivered by a cesarean section and not technically born of his mother. Macbeth is killed by Macduff and Duncan’s son Malcolm is placed on the throne.

As in Ran, Throne of Blood is re-situated to be distinctly Japanese. Set in feudal Japan, the film resembles the play closely but for the fact that there is no character equivalent to Macduff. In the end Washizu (Macbeth) is killed by his own men, shot with arrows on the inner balcony of his fortress. Even though the original language of the play is not used, Throne of Blood is considered to be one of the best adaptations of Macbeth. Also like Ran, it demonstrates the all-consuming power of greed. In the play Macbeth says that his flaw is “vaulting ambition,” and after his first indiscretion, it is not at all difficult for his character to commit the remainder of the murders (1.7.27). My only problem with the film would be that I felt as though Lady Asaji (Lady Macbeth) could have had a more significant role. It’s almost as if Asaji and Kaede (from Ran) could have replaced one another. I’ve always felt that Kaede very much reminded me of Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth. Asaji’s role is certainly not inconsequential though, because without her Washizu never would have killed the Great Lord; I just wish she was portrayed as strong and as domineering as her counterpart in Ran.