The.eternal.zero.2013.hd.jap.eng.subs.tonkats.mp4
Rivka Licklider
The Eternal Zero: A Film About a Kamikaze Pilot and His Legacy
The Eternal Zero is a 2013 Japanese war drama film directed by Takashi Yamazaki and based on a novel by Naoki Hyakuta, published in English by Vertical Inc. The film tells the story of Kyuzo Miyabe, a skilled but reluctant Zero fighter pilot who died in a kamikaze mission during World War II, and his grandson Kentaro Saeki, who investigates his grandfather's life and motives.
The Plot
The film starts with a frame story set in 2004. Kentaro Saeki is a young man who is unsure about his future and fails the national bar examination repeatedly. After his grandmother Matsuno dies, he learns from his mother and sister Keiko that his maternal grandfather Kenichiro was not his biological father. His real grandfather was Kyuzo Miyabe, a kamikaze pilot who died in 1945. Curious about his grandfather's fate, Kentaro and Keiko start visiting his former comrades and learn about his wartime service.
The film then shifts to the past, showing Miyabe's experiences as a Zero fighter pilot during the Pacific War. Miyabe is regarded by his peers as a coward, because he always returns alive from missions and openly says that he does not want to die. He has a wife Matsuno and a daughter Kiyoko waiting for him at home, and he promised them to come back alive. He also has exceptional flying skills and can evade enemy fire with ease. He tries to persuade his fellow pilots that surviving is more important than dying gloriously for their country, but he faces hostility and violence from his superiors and comrades.
As the war situation worsens for Japan, Miyabe is transferred to different bases and faces more dangerous missions. He meets Izaki, a young pilot who admires him and becomes his friend. He also encounters Kageura, a fanatical officer who despises him and challenges him to a duel. Miyabe survives all these ordeals, but he also witnesses the deaths of many of his friends and enemies. He begins to question the meaning of his life and the war.
In 1945, Miyabe is assigned to a kamikaze unit and is ordered to fly a suicide mission against the American fleet. He reluctantly accepts the order, but he also writes a letter to his wife and daughter, explaining his feelings and asking for their forgiveness. He then takes off with Izaki and other pilots, knowing that he will never return.
In 2004, Kentaro and Keiko finally learn the truth about their grandfather's death from Izaki, who survived the war and is dying of cancer in a hospital. Izaki tells them that Miyabe was not a coward, but a brave and noble man who sacrificed himself for his family and his country. He also gives them Miyabe's letter, which he kept for decades. Kentaro and Keiko are moved by their grandfather's words and decide to honor his memory.
The Reception
The Eternal Zero was a huge commercial success in Japan, grossing over 8.76 billion yen ($84.5 million) at the box office . It was also well received by critics, who praised the film's direction, cinematography, music, acting, and emotional impact. The film won several awards, including the Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year .
However, the film also sparked some controversy for its portrayal of kamikaze pilots and its historical accuracy. Some critics accused the film of glorifying war and nationalism, while others argued that it showed the human side of the pilots and their dilemmas . Some historians also pointed out that the film omitted or distorted some facts about the war and the kamikaze operations .
The Conclusion
The Eternal Zero is a film that explores the complex and controversial history of Japan during World War II, through the eyes of a kamikaze pilot and his descendants. The film shows the human drama and tragedy of war, as well as the courage and sacrifice of the people who fought for their beliefs. The film also raises questions about the meaning of life, death, and loyalty, and challenges the viewers to think critically about the past and the present. The Eternal Zero is a film that will touch your heart and make you reflect on your own values and choices.
0f8387ec75