His attendants do everything for him, from organizing his schedule to buttoning his shirt. Alexander Sokurov"s (Russian Ark) new film is a deeply sympathetic portrayal of Hirohito as something of a holy fool, a Chaplinesque character so disconnected from daily life that he doesn"t even know how to open a door by himself. The Sun"s denouement depicts the Emperor"s surrender to General Douglas MacArthur, a meeting that could just as easily be taking place between an earthling and a Martian—two aliens sizing each other up. Their encounter is strange, intense, uncomfortable, funny, sad and respectful all at once. If you"ve seen Sokurov"s films before, you"ll have some idea of what to expect: a beautiful aquarium-tinged color scheme, a mesmerizing pace, remarkable performances and a quiet but constantly creative soundscape. What you may not expect is the humor—Issei Ogata gives a genuinely droll performance as the Emperor—and the astonishing special effects, like the dream sequence in which Hirohito sees his city bombed to fiery oblivion by flying fish. The third entry in Sokurov"s mesmerizing series about 20th-century despots, this is a truly unexpected film from an always-fascinating director.
|
LINKS |
Tod Booth
|
