"Japan's Longest Day" is a very suspenseful and detailed movie that recreates the events leading up to Japan's surrender in World War II, starting with the Potsdam Declaration. Japan's response is wait and see, but is misinterpreted as a flat refusal, leading to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Faced
with already immense losses in life and property(recalled at the end of the movie), total annihilation and an American invasion, the government and military, with emotions ranging from resignation to revolt, debate about the conditions before going to an imperial council which accedes. At first, it is hard to keep track of all of the players but eventually the plot narrows to a simple focus of one day from August 14, 1945 at noon, to the following day at noon, as a recording is made of the emperor's voice to be played to the public, announcing the surrender while the allies are contacted through intermediaries. On this day, small acts of courage make all the difference.
Still, there are some who wish for one decisive battle on Japanese soil(Don't pay attention to the one guy who thinks 20 million kamikazes will carry the day since he's obviously off his meds.). A general counters such thinking by pointing out that it takes more courage to live than to die. A once impossible future full of unknowns, not only consisting of a Japanese military defeat, but also occupation, is now on the horizon for everybody involved. Relax, it all does turn out well for Japan, except for the war criminals.
February 1, 2011
