Throne of Blood

A vivid, visceral ‘Macbeth’ adaptation, ‘Throne of Blood,’ directed by Akira Kurosawa, sets Shakespeare’s definitive tale of ambition and duplicity in a ghostly, fog-enshrouded landscape in feudal Japan. As a hardened warrior who rises savagely to power, Toshiro Mifune gives a remarkable, animalistic performance, as does Isuzu Yamada as his ruthless wife. ‘Throne of Blood’ fuses classical Western tragedy with formal elements taken from Noh theater to create an unforgettable cinematic experience.