Kurosawa’s final epic, and the only film that gained him an Oscar nomination for Best Director, Ran is also the third meeting between his filmography and the works of Shakespeare. Blending King Lear with Japanese legend, it tells the story of an old feudal lord who decides to abdicate and deliver his empire to his three sons, ignoring the effect that power might have on them and their relationships with each other. This story of war, loss and betrayal is infused with the bright colours of its costumes and props, which won Emi Wada the Academy Award for Best Costume Design. Ran is one of the best examples in cinema of the importance of fashion to the production of period dramas.