Lear on the Shore is unique for feeling like a stage play yet taking place entirely outdoors. Usually, stagey movies (both good and bad) take place indoors, so that's something disarming and surprising about this film. Most of it really does take place on that titular beach, with plenty of wide shots, long takes, and extended scenes of dialogue that did give it that feeling of being like watching theatre.
I think it kind of worked, but most of my enjoyment did come from watching Tatsuya Nakadai do his stuff, which is always a treat. Even in his 80s here, he's still got it, and when the film goes in for a close-up (it doesn't happen much here, perhaps like the similarly wide shot-heavy Kurosawa take on King Lear, Ran... also with Nakadai), it's very impactful.
I think it kind of worked, but most of my enjoyment did come from watching Tatsuya Nakadai do his stuff, which is always a treat. Even in his 80s here, he's still got it, and when the film goes in for a close-up (it doesn't happen much here, perhaps like the similarly wide shot-heavy Kurosawa take on King Lear, Ran... also with Nakadai), it's very impactful.
