The Burmese Harp

The Burmese Harp (1956) was Kon Ichikawa's first international hit and one of the films that brought attention to Japanese film makers throughout the world. It is an adaptation of a children's book by Michio Takeyama adapted by Ichikawa's wife Natto Wada. It won the San Giorgio Prize at the Venice Film Festival and later an Academy Award as Best Foreign Language Film. It is the story of a Japanese soldier, Mizushima, who learns to play the Burmese harp and uses it as a signal with his unit that is led by a former music professor, thus the unit is taken to singing songs throughout the film. Mizushima later dresses as a monk and finally decides ot become one and pledges to alleviate suffering and vows to bury the many war dead that are left out to rot in the countryside. The major flaw in the film is that the ferocious fighting spirit and their brutality against the natives is glossed over in the film. The Japanese are portrayed as over grown boy scouts singing songs. The Burmese woman who trades with them sees them as kindly and wishes them well, which I would expect is far from the truth.  The closest it comes to depicting the maniacal attitude of the army is when Mizushima is sent to persuade a battalion to surrender, and they refuse wishing to die rather than be captured. There is not doubt that there is much artistry in the lighting and framing of shots throughout the film. However, I prefer Ichikawa's later war film Fires On The Plain