The Vault

On DVD: Fires on the Plain (1959)

(Nobi)

Directed by Kon Ichikawa

Starring Osamu Takizawa, Mickey Curtis, Eiji Funakoshi

Another cinematic Japanese gem is presented to us by the good people of the Criterion Collection. What would rabid film fans do without that company? IFires on the Plain is directed by Kon Ichikawa who brought us other classic films such as The Burmese Harp and Kokoro. The film is about survival, even at the cost of duties to country as a soldier.

The Movie

Things are not going well for Tamura (Eiji Funakoshi) as the film opens. He is a soldier still fighting at World War II comes to a grinding close. He has just been diagnosed with tuberculosis and weakly makes his way to the army hospital. They tell him he isn’t sick enough yet to warrant care and to get back into the field.

Upon returning to his company, his superior verbally assaults him for returning, because there aren’t enough rations and supplies for the soldiers that are still trying to tough it out.

He tells him he with needs to get admitted into the hospital or kill himself.

Tamura decides he is going to survive, one way or another. It becomes his daily focus, putting his soldier duties squarely in second place. He finds another soldier that has information on a planned extraction point. Will Tamura make it to this rumored extraction point and if that falls through, how much longer can he make it?

Fires on the Plain is solely focused on the plight of Tamura. So, if you are looking for insight into the average Japanese soldier experience in the war, another book or film might be a better choice.

I found it intriguing that the subject of cannibalism was covered in the film. When the rations are gone and soldiers are getting desperately hungry, it is possible that this may enter a soldiers mind and then a trusted fellow soldier becomes could become more of a predator or prey than that of a trusted confidant.

Fires on the Plain is a top notch film featuring exquisite black and white cinematography by Setsuo Kobayashi (The Burmese Harp, Nomugi Pass). The two leads, Eiji Funakoshi as Tamura and Mickey Curtis as Nagatmatsu turn in amazing performances. The action sequences, particularly a sequence involving an attempted road crossing, are extremely intense and won’t soon leave your mind after watching this powerful film.

All things considered, Fires on the Plain belongs on the shelf of any Japanese film fan worth his or her salt. Certainly you can find a place for this film among all those DVD’s on your shelf by Akira Kurosawa , Hiroshi Inagaki and Yasujiro Ozu, can’t you?

7.5/10

The Video

Fires on the Plain is presented in widescreen. The exquisitely stark black and white cinematography looks spectacular on this transfer. I did not notice any instances of grain or artifacts.

7/10

The Audio

Fires on the Plain is presented it the original Mono soundmix in Japanese with English subtitles. The dialogue is clear throughout.

7/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features

Fires on the Plain is presented in a standard amaray case with a stark black and white scene from the film that captures the atmosphere of the film perfectly.

Some nice bonus features await your perusal on this release. First up, director Kon Ichikawa and Mickey Curtis are interviewed for a featurette about the film and the production. They both have some great behind the scene stories and recollections to share.

There is also a featurette in which Donald Richie (a name familiar to any collector of Criterion DVD’s) discusses the film and Ichikawa’s career and his place in Japanese film history.

A booklet with an essay by Chuck Stephens about Fires on the Plain and the career of Kon Ichikawa is also offered.

While it might not be the most plentiful list of bonus features, the ones that are offered compliment the film nicely.

7/10

Overall ( Not an Average) 8/10

Suzie Lackey

The Movie 7.5/10

The Video 7/10

The Audio 7/10

The Packaging and Bonus Features 7/10

Overall (Not an Average) 8/10