Rent The Human Condition Trilogy (1959)
4.3 of 5 from 96 ratings
4h 38min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
One of the towering masterpieces of Japanese and world cinema, this three-part war epic has rarely been seen in the UK, at least partly because of its dauntingly gargantuan nine-hour length. Director Masaki Kobayashi (Harakiri) was attracted to Junpei Gomikawa's source novel because he recognised himself in the character of the protagonist Kaji, an ardent pacifist who came of age during the aggressively militaristic 1930s and 40s. In part one, 'No Greater Love', Kaji is relocated to a mine-supervising job in Manchuria, where he is horrified by the use of forced labour. Part two, 'Road to Eternity', sees him conscripted into the Japanese army and forced to fight in the name of an aggressively imperialist cause. Part three, 'A Soldier's Prayer', deals with the consequences of Japan's defeat, not least for Kaji himself. Throughout, Kobayashi unflinchingly examines the psychological toll of appallingly complex decisions, where being morally 'right' risks outcomes ranging from ostracism to savage beating to death. As Kaji, Tatsuya Nakadai (Sanjuro) is in virtually every scene, providing a rock-solid emotional anchor - and a necessary one in Japan, where the film was hugely controversial for being openly critical of the nation's conduct during WWII. But it's this willingness to confront national taboos head-on that makes it such a lastingly powerful experience. - Actors:
- Tatsuya Nakadai, Michiyo Aratama, Chikage Awashima, Ineko Arima, Keiji Sada, Sô Yamamura, Akira Ishihama, Kôji Nanbara, Seiji Miyaguchi, Tôru Abe, Masao Mishima, Eitarô Ozawa, Kôji Mitsui, Akitake Kôno, Nobuo Nakamura, Kyû Sazanka, Eijirô Tôno, Yasushi Nagata, Yoshio Kosugi, Shinsuke Ashida
- Directors:
- Masaki Kobayashi
- Producers:
- Shigeru Wakatsuki
- Writers:
- Zenzô Matsuyama, Masaki Kobayashi, Jumpei Gomikawa
- Aka:
- Ningen no jôken
- Studio:
- Arrow Films
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Classics, Drama
- Collections:
- Top 10 Films By Year, Top 10 Films of 1959
- Countries:
- Japan
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 19/09/2016
- Run Time:
- 287 minutes
- Languages:
- Japanese LPCM Mono
- Subtitles:
- English
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 2.35:1
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Introduction to the Film by Critic Philip Kemp
- Selected-Scene Commentary by Philip Kemp
- Theatrical Trailers
- Disc 1:
- This disc includes the following:
- Part l - No greater Love
- Special Features - Disc 2:
- This disc includes the following:
- Part ll - Road to Eternity
- Special Features - Disc 3:
- This disc includes the following:
- Part lll - A Soldier's Prayer
- Special Features
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Reviews (3) of The Human Condition Trilogy
Must watch for Japanese Cinema lovers - The Human Condition Trilogy review by Oli
I'm not sure where to even begin with this, you may be put off by the length, as I think in all it's about 9 and a half hours long (you can rent them disc by disc anyway like I did) but nevertheless it makes no difference as this is one of the many epics of Japanese cinema, I'd gone into this seeing Harakiri, so I had a slight inkling about Kobayashis style, but it's really an amazing film, It's Taksuka Nakadai in the role of life, playing the common worker Kaji, who must ask himself if what he is doing is wrong or right, and does he really have to do it? I won't spoil too much as there will be spoilers at the end of this film but for anyone who loves Japanese cinema, or even war films, you should immediately love it, and it will take you on a massive tour de force throughout the entire film trilogy. The dialogue and imagery are also some of the best I've ever seen, and you will the conditions have done to perfection that is probably pretty realistic compared to what they were like in WWII. Apologies for the lackluster review, someone had to review first! You will understand when you see it as it's 3 films I've rented within a month, but watch it, it's pretty heavy in places especially, but understand it and respect it.
3 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
Landmark in world cinema - The Human Condition Trilogy review by TE
It's tempting to write a lengthy piece in a vain attempt to convey the glories of this trilogy.
I'll resist that temptation and just say that it is essential viewing for anyone with even a passing interest in film history, or a passing interest in the human species.
The film explores timeless moral questions.
Don't be put off by the 9 hour length. Savour it, it's more than worth it.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.
Great but tough going - The Human Condition Trilogy review by JG
A must see movie, so at last we did and found it great but tough going. Remarkable anti-war film given that it was made in Japan in the late ‘50s. It doesn’t hold back on the horrors and crimes committed by the Japanese army, and for that matter the Soviets too. In parts it’s melodramatic and mannered, though this doesn’t detract from its unrelentingly bleak view of humankind in times of war.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.