In Akira Kurosawa’s Ran, Tatsuya Nakadai takes on the role of Hidetora Ichimonji, a formidable warlord grappling with the repercussions of his actions in a narrative loosely inspired by Shakespeare’s King Lear. Nakadai’s portrayal of Hidetora has earned widespread acclaim for its profound depth and intensity. As highlighted by thecinemaarchives website, Nakadai skillfully navigates the character’s evolution from dominance to vulnerability, effectively capturing the intricate nuances of pride, regret, and redemption:

Ran—Nakadai as Lord Hidetora Ichimonji. The entire cast is superb but Nakadai’s achievement is among the best of 1985. Nakadai’s performance is unsubtle—lots of emoting—almost like a silent film performance—but it is fitting with the film and size of the character and ego. The shot of Nakadai’s Lord Hidetora Ichimonji leaving the burning castle and descending the steps at the 72 minute mark, with the red and yellow color guards on both sides, is a jaw-dropper—a set piece that has rarely been topped (and draws similarities to the oil rig explosion fire scene in Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood.)

Ran a profound and unforgettable cinematic experience.