Review of Fires on the Plain (2015) by Elizabeth L — 16 Aug 2007
This film is heart-aching. I felt myself cringing with sadness, anger and fear.
The black and white doesn't hide the cruelty of the black explosions, the terrifying sounds, the texture of primal survival, false hopes, true hope, the sheer isolation...
The main character seems at first very passive and submissive but as he makes his long and violent journey through the forests, harsh war-blackened lands and mountains of the late part of the Imperial Japanese army's invasion of the Phillipines we experience his last strong roots of true nobleness to humanity... this was laying in him the whole time.
It is an attrocity to the cause meaningless violence and brutality that is war. This film shows this.
One of the most gorgeous things about the film is that there is no disgusting ulterior motive. As stark as it is, it's incredible how it makes subtle comedic references to Silly Symphonies and slapstick....
I feel that every adult should see Ichikawa's "Fires on the Plain" and then "The Burmese Harp".
This review of Fires on the Plain (2015) was written by Elizabeth L on 16 Aug 2007.
Fires on the Plain has generally received positive reviews.
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