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      Under the Flag of the Rising Sun

      1972 1h 36m History Drama Mystery & Thriller War List
      Reviews 86% Audience Score 500+ Ratings A woman searches for the truth about her husband's death in World War II. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

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      V.A. Musetto New York Post Rated: 3/4 Jun 25, 2005 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      walter m "Under the Flag of the Rising Sun" starts on August 15, 1971 as Sakie Togashi(Sachiko Hidari) makes her annual pilgrimage to the government benefits office to appeal the decision to deny military benefits because her late husband Katsuo(Tetsuro Tanba) was shot for desertion towards the end of the war. It is not the benefits that she is interested in, but more his reputation. The board is sympathetic to her plight, having written the other men of his unit but no concrete evidence emerged. However, four did not respond and she seeks them out, starting with Terajima(Noburo Mitani) who says her husband died bravely in battle. "Under the Flag of the Rising Sun" is a striking film that utilizes a variety of styles with an ordinary one for the present while black and white is mostly used for the war scenes that are color splattered with violence. Most unusual is the use of freeze frame and archival footage which lends it a documentary feel at times. All of which is put to use in a powerful exploration of memory in general and specifically how that applies to insuring that the horrors or war are never forgotten, and most importantly, not repeated. This is set in a country 26 years after its last disastrous war and is now in the midst of a booming prosperity, as the past is being quickly erased. In the end, there is hope in a burgeoning peace movement. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member One of the best unknown films! Great cinematography! And a great unheardof director Kinij Funkasaku!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Audience Member Fukasaku’s intriguing and important exploration into WW2 follows a woman in search of men who knew her husband in the war. Upon first viewing it is an exceptional and engrossing film with the rare exception of effectively employed hand-held camerawork. Requires additional viewing. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member an expertly constructed and executed film about a Japanese WWII widow trying to clear her husband's name of desertion charges....for 26 years! but when she finally has a chance to interview several men who had served with her husband what small hope she had of finally setting things right slowly begins to be ripped from her as she delves into the realities of what a war machine can and will demand of it's enlisted men in the name of honor and patriotism. any outstanding film on the nature of war. Based on a non-fiction book. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Drama and emotional. I like how the film tell the story. Every step in the film there is always a new feeling and aspect about the war. And the end I'm fulfiled with many thoughts about it. Rest in peace, all the soldiers in WW2. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member wow, this movie really shocked me from what have I heard about WW2.. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Under the Flag of the Rising Sun

      Under the Flag of the Rising Sun (1972) Under the Flag of the Rising Sun (1972) Under the Flag of the Rising Sun (1972) Under the Flag of the Rising Sun (1972) View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis A woman searches for the truth about her husband's death in World War II.
      Director
      Kinji Fukasaku
      Screenwriter
      Kinji Fukasaku, Norio Osada, Kaneto Shindô
      Genre
      History, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, War
      Original Language
      Japanese
      Release Date (DVD)
      Aug 10, 2005
      Runtime
      1h 36m