esrosedotblog

Today's film is one of a four set "tetrology" by Alexander Sokurov. A NYTimes Critics' Pick, this is the third to be completed.

A tetralogy is a compound work that is made up of four distinct works. The name comes from the Attic theater, in which a tetralogy was a group of three tragedies followed by a satyr play, all by one ... Wikipedia

That said, each of these films is of a dominating personality of the 20th Century.

Today's film is a close in character study of the Japanese Emperor in the days immediately after defeat in WWII.

The Sun (2005)

The realization of defeat, the meetings with Douglas Macarthur, the Allied Commander and the eventual denunciation of the Emperor's status as a deity are observed through the private moments of the man himself.

I have seen this before and it is extremely moving.

A simple man caught in a complex role with only a partial understanding of the War and how it happened as well as how it evolved, he is faced with major decisions in just a few days' time.

This is all imaginary of course but there are a few facts available, some from the man who was Emperor himself. He went on to become a beloved figure for his people, as a man, and was responsible for the pacification of the crazy passions of the military and religious leaders who had used him.

Since I lived during this era and remember the episodes pretty clearly (I was 8 but a smart kid) it is of even greater importance to my own experience. My Dad ended up in Japan as the War concluded. I grew up with a lot of opinions about the people there and their leaders. I wonder what he would think of this film. Probably would have contempt for it.

So, it is very much worth watching for me.

It is and was a 5 out of Netflix5.

Labels: films