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The Sun by Aleksandr Sokurov with Issei Ogata
Brussels Filmmuseum
on 09/07/2005
A fascinating and enchanting portrayal of the last days of the Japanese Emperor as 'son of the gods', when Hirihito renounced his divine status, thereby giving his country an easier path to a post-war future.
Sokurov lays the foundations for this decision during very dark bunker scenes with warm light, an eery noisetrack and a mythological firebombing of the city. He focuses on the culture and the psyche of the last divine emperor, rather than on his political responsability.
Apparently the degree of his involvement in Japan's aggressive foreign politics is still historically disputed.
But in my interpretation this movie doesn't portray the emperor as a powerless pacifist either. For example, when he regrets loosing the war because of the arrogance of his own nation.
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