This is a slow moving movie that can get the audiences immersed in a Japanese family and the stuff they go through during 1940's when japan decides to invade other nations. Although the family this movie focuses on is very normal and there is nothing that really makes them stand out all that much. The characters are very believable and sometimes I didn't feel I was watching acting. But real people go about their daily lives. This movie doesn't have a direct plot but it focuses on the wife Kabei and what she does for her family when her honorable husband gets arrested for his freedom of thought. There is some messages in this movie about how unethical laws are better than no laws. Maybe to some degree that is true, but I have been screwed over by the law and sometimes I get the feeling it's just not right. Although that is life, it effects good people in a negative way while the bad ones gets away. And laws are suppose to be just but even today it's far from it sometimes. And that is one of the aspects that is covered in this movie. But most of the character in this movie is dis-likable, except Kabei to some degree even if she comes off really mundane despite her circumstances, her husband and Yamazaki Toru(Tadanobu Asano) is the only characters that are likable. Most of the others are nationalistic and narrow minded people that still thought during the 1940's that their emperor is some kind of divine god. And that they are the chosen ones to conquer everything else in their path. And this movie does a pretty good job of showing the arrogance of some people during that era and how they lacked ethics but filled with false pride. It was kinda difficult to feel compassion for the Japanese families in that era while watching this flick since they had it alright during that era and their struggles are irrelevant because the Japanese government brought it upon themselves at that time. By invading and raping innocent women in other nations and also bombing vessels that they really shouldn't have. while torturing and enslaving many others. While a lot of the Japanese people supported it although some probably didn't know exactly what was going on. So the struggles the main family in this movie face just seemed like a walk in the park. Just being honest. So the constant complaining from the family members seemed irrelevant at times. Like when the daughters complains about their bad mannered uncle or going to school or being slightly hungry. Yeah that is what kids complain about but at least they weren't beaten up for learning Japanese, starved to death, treated as a test subject or raped. What happened is what happened. But since the youngsters didn't know what was really going on there is a bit of sympathy for those characters. Now if this movie took place in present time with the Japanese family presented in the movie, it would be more effective when it comes to bringing out compassion. The main family is likable for the most part although nothing really stands out about them much. But I did like how this movie doesn't try to take sides but show a realistic portrayal of how some people in japan acted during that era. While showing the good and the bad like everywhere else in the world. While also showing the motives even if it's positive or negative which is a more humanistic, realistic portrayal and direction. And how hate can lead to suffering and devastation even if it's not entirely a war movie. But shows how suffering can happen in their own nation even while invading others. Although this movie is about 2 hours long it felt really long though because of the realism and how it just seemed way too normal sometimes. I can understand how some audiences would be immersed with this movie because of the realism or bored to tears because of it. The last few minutes is a slight bit of a tear jerker and striking, I guess because of the realistic build up.
7.5/10
7.5/10