Review of Kabei: Our Mother (2008) by Joe L — 27 Mar 2009

I loved this film. It had a strong anti-war message and delivered some fine, nuanced acting all around. Not many films set in small Japanese villages during WW2 as a backdrop are shown internationally, and this is an important one I believe. It showed you the dangers of speaking out against the war in Japan at a time when nationalistic superiority was being instilled in the hearts and minds of the masses, and the utter stupidity of being branded a traitor to one's country if one was to do so ("thought criminal").

It's the performances and struggles of the mother and the student of her wrongfully imprisoned husband that really made this film so great. I would highly recommend this to anyone who has an interest in some WW2 history shown through the lenses of a small Japanese town.