The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer
1961 ‘Ningen no jôken’ Directed by Masaki Kobayashi
Synopsis
The Japanese forces having been shattered, Kaji and some comrades embark on an epic journey on foot southward to where Kaji hopes to rejoin Michiko. After surviving many perils he is captured by the Red Army and subjected to treatment that echoes that meted out to the Chinese.
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What a journey, an incredible conclusion to the 10 hour tale of woe, i feel as i've been dragged, beaten, and starved alongside him every step of the way. So what has been learnt of the folly of man? The human condition is just as dense and mysterious as ever before. This series offers no answer, it exists merely to document the incredible unfair reality of life, in an even more unfair and unforgiving time, to urge the viewer to ask questions they may not want to ask. I felt the first act meandered and dragged on a little too long, albeit possibly my favorite scene of the series happens here; the hanging man, one of the most beautifully crafted shots i have ever seen. After reviewing all three, i would have to say my order of preference goes 1>2>3, but they are all incredible and any lover of film should be zeroing in on them if they haven't already.
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The 10 hour saga is over and I'm sitting here stunned and completely drained. The first two movies were leading up to it, but this final one really just ripped my heart out, threw it on the ground and repeatedly stamped on it. I don't think I've ever been this emotional about a character or set of films since I was a kid. Damn you, Kobayashi, why did you have to do this to me?
Kaji's transformation and growth as a character through the films is so masterfully done I felt like I was changing along with him. He's a completely different person in this final act; worn down and devastated by the war, all his focus is on getting…
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This was so long and so amazing. Every movie fan should see this movie once in his lifetime!
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What a journey, an incredible conclusion to the 10 hour tale of woe, i feel as i've been dragged, beaten, and starved alongside him every step of the way. So what has been learnt of the folly of man? The human condition is just as dense and mysterious as ever before. This series offers no answer, it exists merely to document the incredible unfair reality of life, in an even more unfair and unforgiving time, to urge the viewer to ask questions they may not want to ask. I felt the first act meandered and dragged on a little too long, albeit possibly my favorite scene of the series happens here; the hanging man, one of the most beautifully crafted shots i have ever seen. After reviewing all three, i would have to say my order of preference goes 1>2>3, but they are all incredible and any lover of film should be zeroing in on them if they haven't already.
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"We may be paying dearly for our worthless freedom."
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Never less than stellar in execution and the way the story is concluded does makes sense. It's just much too long and not nearly as engaging as part I. Disappointing.
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Quite possibly the greatest film ever made.
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