It might seem obligatory to include at least one Akira Kurosawa film in a list of your favorite films of all time. But there’s a reason why it’s obligatory; the man was an undisputed master of cinema, and I feel extremely fortunate that I got to see the 40th anniversary remaster of Ran, his final historical epic, in the theater.

Drawing inspiration from both Shakespeare’s King Lear and stories about Mōri Motonari, a 16th-century Japanese warlord, Ran tells the tale of an aging warlord (masterfully played by Tatsuya Nakadai) who divides his kingdom between his three sons. But what seems like a wise and prudent decision immediately causes family rifts, and before long, the entire region is sunk into conflict as sons turn against their father and each other.

Calling Ran an “epic” almost seems like an understatement, what with its sweeping battle sequences and dramatic heights. But just as impressive are its insights into human frailty and the destruction wrought by pride and ambition, which it delivers via some of the greatest images ever captured on film. (Kurosawa spent ten years storyboarding every shot in the film as paintings.) One scene in particular, that of Nakadai’s aging warlord, his face contorted in grief and madness, descending the steps of a burning castle while his sons’ armies look on, will linger long in the memory.