The epic view from heaven

VIEWERS are in the rare position of being spoiled for choice by the terrestrial channels tonight. Akiro Kurosawa's astonishing epic, Ran is on World, while Pearl is showing two award-winning documentaries, one about the development of a human life and theother about infertility.

JAPANESE director Kurosawa based his huge tormented vision Ran (World, 9.30pm, Original Running Time, 160 mins), partly on a Japanese myth and partly on King Lear, and the 1985 film is widely considered the best screen translation of Shakespeare.

Kurosawa described the film as ''human deeds seen from heaven'', and the tale of human drama and tragedy is indeed viewed with a sense of distance.

Tatsuya Nakadai portrays a great but ageing warlord who divides his kingdom between his three sons and, true to the story, dispossesses the one who's most loyal to him.

''Ran'' (chaos) ensues as the eldest sons battle for power encouraged by the evil Lady Kaede, powerfully portrayed by Mieko Harada. The battle scenes are some of the most terrible ever filmed, and the outcome bleaker than Shakespeare's.

Admittedly, the film's power is diminished somewhat on the small screen, but it's still a grandiose vision.

DESPITE the soppy umbrella title, The Greatest Love of All, both documentaries involved promise to be fascinating and educational.