Kon Ichikawa directed this horrowing, compelling, and unforgettable anti-war story set in the Philippines during the last days of WWII. The Japanese army is in retreat and the main protagonist, suddenly struck with tuberculosis, is left standed between his old unit, the army hospital (neither of which will have him), the mercy of the allied forces and his fatigued compatriots, who turn out to be the most lethal. Meciless graphic horror assails the viewer while morality and human compassion are twisted beyond recognition in this masterwork by Ichikawa. It will haunt you for years afterward.
by Marlin Tyree | Source: Embassy Home Entertainment VHS
21 Dec 2006 5:26 PM | Submit Comment