5/5 More like an accusation
  by Zack Davisson (Seattle, WA, USA)
I really can not say enough about what a great film this is. "Under the Flag of the Rising Sun" is just pure, masterful filmmaking, and one of the most potent and personal anti-war films I have ever seen.

Director Fukusaku Kinji is best known in the West for one of his final films, Battle Royale, which, while a fine flick, is kind of a shame. He really should be best known for films like his 5-film yakuza-epic Battles Without Honor & Humanity and for works of quiet genius like "Under the Flag of the Rising Sun." Fukusaku was a director with a message, who aimed to speak to his audience through the medium of film, showing them the folly and consequences of using violence as a tool of change.

"Under the Flag of the Rising Sun" (Original title "Gunki hatameku motoni" or "Under the Fluttering Battle-flag") tells the story of widow Togashi Sakie (Hidari Sachiko) who has been applying for her husband's military pension for several decades, only to have it denied each time. Her husband is listed as having been executed as a deserter, and so deserves no pension. However Sakie notes that there are no records of the execution, and at this stage just wants her husband's name cleared of what she feels are false charges. The workers at the pension office are sympathetic, but can't take any action based on the limited facts. They suggest that Sakie seek out the remaining living soldiers who were there when her husband was executed, and get the true story.

From there, Sakie drifts Rashomon-like into a world of various truths, of horrors and heroics of war, as she attempts to construct a picture of her husband's final hours from the various conflicting accounts. Was he a monster? Did he eat human flesh? Was he a hero? Did he save lives at the expense of his own? Is there a little bit of truth in everything?

Fukusaku handles these various stories, as well as the meta-story of Sakie's search with skill rarely seen in modern cinema. The tone of the film changes depending on the scene, with Sakie's quiet dignity being juxtaposed with scenes of her husband Togashi Katsuo (played by famed actor Tetsuro Tamba, Battle of Okinawa) who changes from stern yet reliable Sergeant to cold-eyed wildman as the situation and memories requires.

What is most startling about "Under the Flag of the Rising Sun" is its direct condemnation of the Emperor. The film opens and closes with a ceremony where Emperor Hirohito offers flowers to the war dead, but bitterly comments that Togashi Katsuo is not amongst those honored. Later in the film, he makes an even more powerful accusation, providing a firm exclamation point to his film.

The DVD for "Under the Flag of the Rising Sun" has two interesting extras, one being a short interview with Fukasaku scholar Yamane Sadao and the other being a commentary tract by subtitler Linda Hoaglund. She interviewed Fukusaku about this film, and provides an interesting insight into her work, and the meaning she tried to portray.

5/5 A widow's quest
  by Walter J. Hofman (Tennessee, USA)
This is an excellent movie for demonstrating the "fog" of war. Sachiko Hidari is absolutely pefect in her role as the widow Togashi. She is utterly believable as she encounters the different parties involved in her husband's death. The film itself is tightly directed and a masterpiece of subtle differences in outlook of the different ranks of soldiers in their impression of war and battle. It underscores the fact that the glory of war soon fades and all that is left is confusion, guilt and agonizing grief. A must have for any collection.

5/5 worth the purchase
  by mb washington
This is a very good film! I was pleasantly suprised, since I wasn't quite sure what to expect and made my decision based on reviews. It's certainly worth your time and money.

5/5 An adaptation of Kurosawa's Rashomon theme. Very good.
  by Laird M. Wilcox (Kansas, United States)
This is an excellent movie about a Japanese war widow trying to find the truth behind her husband' death toward the end of World War II. The story takes many twists and turns as figures from the past emerge with stories of their own misfeasance and participation in kilings. The female lead is played by a very excellent actress who does wonderful justice to the topic she dealing with. Was the soldier killed, executed for desertion, under what circumstances, and so on. A great drama done in a Kurosawa style.

5/5 One Of Japan's Most Profound Anti-War Film's Ever Made!
  by Ernest Jagger (Culver City, California)
"Under the Flag of the Rising Sun" is a masterpiece of cinema, and I highly recommend the film to all viewers. This film is a genuine masterpiece from director Kinji Fukasaku. First released in Japan in 1972, it has only recently been available in the west in its present form. The film is based on the novel "Under the Flag," by Shoji Yuki. The film has often been refered to as a Rashomon-type film. With different viewpoints and perspectives from the various characters in the film. The film opens with old WWII archival pictures of the Japanese war machine. The film then moves briskly through 26 years into the future and present time the film takes place, where the Emperor is at a commemoration ceremony paying tribute to the 3 million war dead.

However, not everyone is listed in the text that pays respect to the fallen soldiers. Some are left out. Among those who are left out is the name of Segeant Katsuo Togashi, who was apparently executed for desertion. However, the records of his death are not complete, and very much is missing into his death. His widow, Sakie Togashi (Sachiko Hidari) gives a riveting performance as the former wife who wants to understand why her husband died, and how. The Japanese Ministry can do nothing it seems, as the records [what little remain] no matter how faulty must be kept as they are. However, the ministry gives her the names of four men who know the circumstances of her husbands death. [Each with a different variation in details]. Hence the comparisons to Rashomon.

Her husband died on New Guinea. And each of the veterans give their own harrowing accounts of the horrors of the war. However, each give their own perspectives of the war. All of the stories are different, and each give a different account of Sergeant Togashi. When the stories are told, they are cleverly done in a way in which the viewer experiences what these soldiers went through. Fukasaku employs a technique in which each story opens up with archival photos of the war, drifting from black and white to color. The gruesomeness of the war is not spared. Each veterans perspective is riveting and shows the brutality of the New Guinea campaign. As such, the viewer witnesses the story as told by each veteran, and this makes [much like Rashomon] the film much more intriguing. Fukasaku created a brilliant film which should be seen by everyone. Highest recommendation [Stars: 5+++]