Biruma No Tategoto / The Burmese Harp (1956) :
Brief Review -
Some War Classic To Remember! An elegy as well as an inspiration to all Japanese soldiers who lost the spirit and courage during WW 2. The Burmese Harp is far different from other war dramas made that time. If you remember 'The Bridge On The River Kwai' which released in the same year as this and became a global sensation. Then let me tell you this like a Japanese version of that film with much more hard-hitting climax. I know comparing these two films doesn't make any accurate sense but I still i did cause I want people to watch this film considering the high standard of that Hollywood flick. The Burmese Harp is nothing less, rather i would say some people might just find it better than expected standard. In the War's closing days, when a conscience-driven Japanese soldier fails to get his countrymen to surrender to overwhelming force, he adopts the lifestyle of a Buddhist monk to hide from British force. The way it ends is truly heart touching for every human being who knows the sensitivity of the situations of war, patriotism and humanity. I was tears in those last 5 minutes and i am sure everyone who will see it or have seen it would go through the same. It is a poignant elegy of surrendered mindset of Japanese soldiers but by the time it ends it becomes an inspirational chapter. That was something new in War Genre for sure. It's a big bunch of actors and all of them have done well but i personally loved Shoji Yasui the most. His Mizushima will remain with me forever. The film has many dialogues to remember, the words have power to hit you hard and teach something about humanity. Yokoyama's cinematography is fantastic. Kon Ichikawa has done tremendously well as a director. A thank you note for him for such a heart touching and progressive film with some real motive for country other than just filmmaking.
RATING - 8/10*
By - #samthebestest.
Some War Classic To Remember! An elegy as well as an inspiration to all Japanese soldiers who lost the spirit and courage during WW 2. The Burmese Harp is far different from other war dramas made that time. If you remember 'The Bridge On The River Kwai' which released in the same year as this and became a global sensation. Then let me tell you this like a Japanese version of that film with much more hard-hitting climax. I know comparing these two films doesn't make any accurate sense but I still i did cause I want people to watch this film considering the high standard of that Hollywood flick. The Burmese Harp is nothing less, rather i would say some people might just find it better than expected standard. In the War's closing days, when a conscience-driven Japanese soldier fails to get his countrymen to surrender to overwhelming force, he adopts the lifestyle of a Buddhist monk to hide from British force. The way it ends is truly heart touching for every human being who knows the sensitivity of the situations of war, patriotism and humanity. I was tears in those last 5 minutes and i am sure everyone who will see it or have seen it would go through the same. It is a poignant elegy of surrendered mindset of Japanese soldiers but by the time it ends it becomes an inspirational chapter. That was something new in War Genre for sure. It's a big bunch of actors and all of them have done well but i personally loved Shoji Yasui the most. His Mizushima will remain with me forever. The film has many dialogues to remember, the words have power to hit you hard and teach something about humanity. Yokoyama's cinematography is fantastic. Kon Ichikawa has done tremendously well as a director. A thank you note for him for such a heart touching and progressive film with some real motive for country other than just filmmaking.
RATING - 8/10*
By - #samthebestest.