Screenings of ‘Rashomon,’ ‘Seven Samurai’

The Japan Foundation Los Angeles presents free screenings on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 7 p.m. This month’s screenings will be held at Goethe-Institut Los Angeles, 5750 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 100, in Los Angeles.

©1950 Daiei Co., Ltd.

Oct. 12 — “Rashomon” (88 minutes, 1950). A riveting psychological thriller that investigates the nature of truth and the meaning of justice, “Rashomon” is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made. Four people give different accounts of a man’s murder and the rape of his wife, which director Akira Kurosawa presents with striking imagery and an ingenious use of flashbacks. This eloquent masterwork and international sensation revolutionized film language and introduced Japanese cinema — and a commanding new star by the name of Toshiro Mifune — to the Western world.

©1954 Toho Co., Ltd.

Oct. 26 — “Seven Samurai” (207 minutes, 1954). One of the most thrilling movie epics of all time, “Seven Samurai” (Shichinin no Samurai) — the inspiration for “The Magnificent Seven” (1960) — tells the story of a 16th-century village whose desperate inhabitants hire the eponymous warriors to protect them from invading bandits. This three-hour ride from Kurosawa — featuring legendary actors Mifune and Takashi Shimura — seamlessly weaves philosophy and entertainment, delicate human emotions and relentless action, into a rich, evocative, and unforgettable tale of courage and hope.

Both films are in Japanese with English subtitles. Reservations are not required. For more information, visit http://jflalc.org/japanema-at-goethe-schedule.html.