Welcome in a xenophobic, coward and ruthless Japan.
A FIRST INDEPENDENT MOVIE
As an independent, Nagisa Oshima brings us in the Japanese campaign during the summer of 1945 – just when the Defeat is coming. In the middle of nowhere, a black american soldier is caught and kept prisoner in a small village. Of course, everyone treats him as an animal. Because everyone is totally disgusted with him.
THE VILLAGE
This village seems quite peacefull. Far from the mass-bombing touching the cities, life is calm, but difficult. Sometimes, a bomber flies over the place. And eating isn’t always easy. Especially with limited stock, and refugees coming from the cities. Also, with no authories around here, villagers are left alone to take important decisions. So the village is like a microcosm.
THE JAPANESE STATE OF MIND
But Nagisa Oshima is clear here, the villagers aren’t united. Rich and poors hate each others, everyone is lying, stealing from neighbours, insulting someone else… People are trying to survive, they don’t care about anything else. They don’t have any compassion, and when a little child steals some rice, it becomes a major problem. This can be called hypocrisy and selfishness.
THE EMPEROR
Yes, war-time is difficult, but some villagers are somehow satisfied with it! The Chief for example, he has power and can take decisions. With no real authorities around, people can do what they want without being punished, and that’s the case, unfortunately! Also, when they watch Tokyo burning, they’re laughing! When they hear about the Defeat, they’re quite happy!
THE BEAST
The black americain soldier is just a scapegoat to let us show the real beast: the villagers. Nagisa Oshima said “if the americain soldier was white, he’d have been admired and maybe respected by the Japanese. Because, unconsciously, Japanese think White Man is superior”. Which explains a lot about the mean behavior of the villagers!
Nagisa Oshima is doing a cruel description of a Japanese state of mind, where people are just selfish and arrogant, using a black american soldier as an excuse to act superior.
The Catch (1961) = 3,5/6
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