Credits

Regie

Masaki Kobayashi

Cast

Tatsuya Nakadai, Michiyo Aratama, Tamao Nakamura, Yūsuke Kawazu, Chishū Ryū, Taketoshi Naitô, Kyōko Kishida

Genre

drama, war, history

Land

Japan

Taal

Japanese

Ondertiteling

English

Storyline

Part 1: No Greater Love (1959)
During the Second World War, Japanese conscientious objector Kaji works as a supervisor in a Manchurian prison camp. He hopes to avoid duty as a soldier, but he also hopes to be helpful to the welfare of his prisoners. But an escape attempt by Chinese prisoners results in Kaji’s arrest for collusion. He faces the possibility of transferral to combat–or worse.

Part 2: Road to Eternity (1959)
Kaji is sent to the Japanese army labeled Red and is mistreated by the vets. Along his assignment, Kaji witnesses cruelties in the army and revolts against the abusive treatment against the recruit Obara. He also sees his friend Shinjô Ittôhei defecting to the Russian border, and he ends in the front to fight a lost battle against the Russian tanks division.

Part 3: A Soldier’s Prayer (1961)
After the Japanese defeat to the Russians, Kaji leads the last remaining men through Manchuria. Intent on returning to his dear wife and his old life, Kaji faces great odds in a variety of different harrowing circumstances as he and his fellow men sneak behind enemy lines.