MovieChat Forums > Biruma no tategoto (1957) Discussion > Powerful, elegant movie, but...

Powerful, elegant movie, but...

posted 17 years ago by Gregoire-2
6 replies | jump to latest

*spoilers below*

I just caught The Burmese Harp last night and was riveted by this story and the lush locale of Burma (now Myanmar). I rated this movie eight stars, a very spiritual and effecting film, especially as its a staging that was quite unfamiliar to me among the many WWII films of the 50s (namely, the post-war perspective from the viewpoint of the Japanese).

One thing that rather escaped me however was the behavior of the main character during the second half of the film, and the change in his personality after viewing the dead bodies of the soldiers. Although it is explained (perhaps a bit too awkwardly) in a letter to his friends, I believe that to truly understand the seachange in this character, one must neccessarily understand a bit of Buddhist thinking. Its only because I know a little bit that I feel the answer to the film's deeper questions lies within that understanding.

Anybody else feel the same way, or is it possible that what I'm reading as my own lack of understanding of a certain culture is, instead, just a shortcoming of the film, something perhaps I'm giving it too much credit for?

[–] ndc3 17 years ago

I just watched this movie for the first time a few nights ago and I was struck by the exact same thing, at first. I thought Mizushima's 'metamorphosis' in the second part of the film was a bit abrupt. But taken in the context of another Ichikawa movie I had recently viewed (Fires on the Plains), it made perfect sense. In that movie, the horrors of war had a massive psychological impact on the characters, and the mental shift caused be viewing these horrors caused radical changes in their behavior. In that sense, Ichikawa was very consistent in his portrayal of the effect war has on those who participate in it.

I will say that I enjoyed this movie immensely, even more so than Fires on the Plains. Though I am not very familiar with Buddhist thinking, I was nonetheless touched by Mizushima's spiritual journey as shown in the film. I also thought the actor who played Mizushima did a tremendous job, as did the main characters from Fires on the Plains.

I'm glad Criterion has released these films and made them available to a wide audience. For those like me who had never heard of Ichikawa, these DVD releases introduce us to a new side of Japanese filmmaking.

[–] frequency-2 16 years ago

Though I know little of Buddhism either I know why he was motivated. Dead comrades everywhere, all the living comrades defeated and imprisoned and soon to be shipped home. His one man burial detail was the only thing that made any sense to him out of the conflict. Someone should respect their dead and Mizushima elected himself.

[–] rserrano 16 years ago

In buddhist tradition (as well as the mystic branches of most religions), the deepest kinds of realizations, as to the true nature of being, are instantaneous rather than gradual. Such realizations are deeply felt by the experiencer but would likely not be noticed by an observer. This is the kind of event that happened to the Buddha one evening under the bodhi tree and in modern times to people like Eckhart Tolle and others.

Deep suffering and a profound understanding of the impermanent nature of all things (including oneself) can often be a catalyst for such realizations. It is not hard to imagine the systematic burial of comrades bringing on such an event.

[–] agera 15 years ago

I know nothing of Buddhist thinking yet I understood the lone soldier's sea-change on an instinctive level. This is not because I am so wise or perceptive but because, in my view anyway, the film does an excellent job of conveying the impact of all the soldier saw and experienced and how he was compelled to alter his entire way of life in order to embrace the alteration he underwent. In other words, his geographical journey turned into a spiritual one.

I did long for him to rejoin his fellow soldiers, though. I can't quite say why as I know what he was doing was necessary and important not only to him but to the entire world.

[–] Felonious-Punk 14 years ago

Oh thanks, I think I get it now. I was wondering why the sight of that grave on the night before he was to rejoin his group. But now I remember the flashback of all the death he'd seen and I understand that it was edited that way to mean that this death was a sort of tipping point for him, socially or spiritually. Is that similar to what you think?

*This is a place to write anything I think is important or smart or cute. It ends all my comments.*

[–] PoppyTransfusion 9 years ago

Just to add to what others have written, most of which I agree with, I think Mizushima is presented from the outset as being like the Burmese buddhists. He built his harp and learned to use it for starters. His company remarked how much he could pass for a Burmese monks as well when he later masquerades as one. His desire to bury his fallen comrades is inspired by a great pity, a pathos that is present in the sounds of the harp he plays so well.

I give my respect to those who have earned it; to everyone else, I'm civil.