Under the Flag of the Rising Sun (1972)
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From Japan comes Under the Flag of the Rising Sun, a movie which might fall under the category of mystery, or even your average drama, but is still interesting as a picture of Japanese opinion of the war, and the men who served under the flag of the Empire.
In Under the Flag of the Rising Sun, a war widow searches for the true reason behind her husband’s death, and why she’s been unable to collect survivor benefits. It turns out he has been classified a traitor and a deserter, and the exact cause of his death listed as ‘unknown’.
She sets out on a quest to find the people he served with, to determine the real story behind the government smokescreen. The people she visits give her parts of the story, never quite enough to fully develop a picture, until at last she returns to the first person she visits, who finally reveals the full truth.
What’s that you might ask? Well, in short, her husband was neither a traitor or a deserter, but was executed along with two other members of his squad after they killed an officer who basically put them through hell. The remaining member has lived with his guilt over the incident, and has basically gone a little crazy because of it.
While the movie plays out like a detective story/murder mystery, it is decidedly an anti-war film, as we are dealt cards dealing with the aftermath of combat on the survivors, and the issues of the men enlisted to fight for a cause they don’t necessarily believe in.
We’re also witness to some definitely gruesome and squirm-inducing moments as the squad does what it needs to in order to survive, nearly starving to death….
If you’re at all interested in (well somewhat) contemporary views of WWII from a Japanese point of view, then Under the Flag of the Rising Sun is a must-see.
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