Pacino's three-tiered directorial debut kicks off with Al's reasons for tackling the Bard. Then he scours the streets of New York for comments on the playwright, eliciting opinions from academics, critics and celebrated thespians on questions of performance, text and the history behind it. He follows an assembled cast through readings and rehearsals, and provides dramatic renditions of key scenes, culminating in a performance of Richard The Third. A marvellously intelligent, witty and imaginativ find out more...

Ran, Kurosawa's last great epic, is a Jidaigeki (Japanese period drama) depicting the fall of Hidetora Ichimonj, an ageing Sengoku-era warlord who abdicates as ruler in favor of his three sons. His kingdom slowly disintegrates as the sons struggle for power, murdering rivals and laying waste to the land, and Hidetora goes insane after watching his retainers slaughtered in an epic massacre, the centrepiece of the film. As the kingdom crumbles and rival warlords move in for the kill, the Ichimonji find out more...