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The Emperor in August

Play trailer The Emperor in August 2015 2h 16m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings

Critics Reviews

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Nathanael Hood The Retro Set The film feels as detached as Hirohito, somehow mistaking austere objectivity with sententiousness. Rated: 6/10 Dec 29, 2018 Full Review Edmund Lee South China Morning Post An elegant yet overly detached account of events leading up to Japan's unconditional surrender to the Allies on August 15, 1945. ... Non-history buffs probably need not apply. Rated: 2.5/5 Oct 22, 2016 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member An excellent modern rendition of the story told in Japan's Longest Day. Unlike that film, this movie has a greater scale to it. We are treated mainly to wide shots showing everything in frame rather than closeups. And the advent of digital effects allow for some pretty impressive depictions of the ruins of Tokyo. The film also expands a bit in time, starting with events from that spring, including the formation of Suzuki's cabinet, the firebombing of Tokyo, and the reaction to the Potsdam Declaration and both atomic bombs. I love the look of this film. It clearly had a great budget and access to many areas of historical value. The cinematography is pretty great as well, with short shots and varied camera angles keeping a feel of motion. The performances are mostly very good. Suzuki is rather delightfully deaf and weak, but determined, while the man playing Anami is very dignified and warm. Tojo is pretty much perfect. I'd expect a bit more rigid aggression from Anami and some of the army brass. They seem a bit too modern and nonmilitaristic in this depiction. Maybe Anami really was warm and open with his kids and generous to his maid. I don't know. But I do know he doesn't seem enough of a hardliner here. The real Anami was much more indecisive and not so optimistic about what the future would bring. The titular emperor is a bit off too. Hirohito was a reserved, awkward person, but here he's handsome and erudite. But I think the biggest issue with the performances here is that everyone's too calm. This was a moment of extreme passion and intensity, yet we're treated to it like a formal discussion. The only exception are the coup leaders who are suitably intense if not really explained very well. At its best this film is like being a fly on the wall to world-changing events. On the whole this is a gorgeous, fascinating look at one moment in time where everything changed. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Emperor in August

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Cast & Crew

Movie Info

Director
Masato Harada
Producer
Nozomu Enoki, Hirotaka Aragaki
Screenwriter
Masato Harada, Kazutoshi Hando
Production Co
Shochiku Co. Ltd., Asmik Ace Entertainment
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Japanese
Runtime
2h 16m