The Human Condition (film trilogy)

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The Human Condition is a Japanese epic film trilogy made between 1959 and 1961.

It was directed by Masaki Kobayashi and stars Tatsuya Nakadai. The trilogy follows the life of Kaji, a Japanese pacifist and socialist, as he tries to survive in the fascist and oppressive world of WWII-era Japan. The character development of Kaji through the three films is considered by many to be inspirational.

The first film, No Greater Love (1959), recounts Kaji's experiences as a mining operation supervisor, in his dealings with Chinese prisoners of war forced to work in the mines.

In the second film, The Road to Eternity (1959), conscientious objector Kaji, now forced to serve in the Japanese army during the War, helps a friend defect to the Russians and nearly goes with him. But despite his opposition to war, Kaji does his best to serve and help.

The final film in the trilogy is A Soldier's Prayer (1961).

Altogether, the trilogy is over nine hours long.

The British film critic David Shipman described the trilogy in his 1983 book, The Story of Cinema, as "unquestionably the greatest film ever made."^[1]

[edit] External links and References

1. ^ Shipman, D. The Story of Cinema, Hodder and Stoughton 1983

• No Greater Love at the Internet Movie Database
• The Road to Eternity at the Internet Movie Database
• A Soldier's Prayer at the Internet Movie Database