The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (II) (1959)
"Ningen no jôken" (original title)

Kaji is sent to the Japanese army labeled Red and is mistreated by the vets. Along his assignment, Kaji witnesses cruelties in the army; he revolts against the abusive treatment spent to ... See full summary »

Director:

Masaki Kobayashi

Writers:

Zenzo Matsuyama (screenplay), Masaki Kobayashi (screenplay),

Stars:

Tatsuya Nakadai, Michiyo Aratama, Kokinji Katsura

3 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tatsuya Nakadai	...	Kaji
Michiyo Aratama	...	Michiko (segment "Dai 3 bu")
Kokinji Katsura	...	Sasa Nitôhei (segment "Dai 3 bu")
Jun Tatara	...	Hino Jun'i (segment "Dai 3 bu")
Michirô Minami	...	Yoshida Jôtôhei (segment "Dai 3 bu")
Kei Satô	...	Shinjô Ittôhei (segment "Dai 3 bu")
Kunie Tanaka	...	Obara Nitôhei (segment "Dai 3 bu")
Ryôhei Uchida	...	Hashitani Gunsô (segment "Dai 3 bu")
Kan Yanagiya	...	Tanoue Nitôhei (segment "Dai 3 bu")
Kenjiro Uemura	...	Bannai Jôtôhei (segment "Dai 3 bu") (as Kenjirô Uemura)
Kaneko Iwasaki	...	Tokunaga Kangofu (segment "Dai 3 bu")
Mayumi Kurata	...	Obara no Tsuma (segment "Dai 3 bu")
Taketoshi Naitô	...	Tange Ittôhei (segment "Dai 3 bu")
Hideo Kidokoro	...	Kudô Taii (segment "Dai 3 bu")
Yoshiaki Aoki	...	Soga Gunsô (segment "Dai 3 bu")

Storyline

Kaji is sent to the Japanese army labeled Red and is mistreated by the vets. Along his assignment, Kaji witnesses cruelties in the army; he revolts against the abusive treatment spent to the recruit Obara that commits suicide; he also sees his friend Shinjô Ittôhei defecting to the Russian border; and he ends in the front to fight a lost battle against the Russian tanks division.

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Plot Keywords:

japanese army | japanese | conscientious objector | foxhole | recruit | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese Mandarin Russian

Release Date:

February 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

Human Condition II: Road to Eternity

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shôchiku Eiga

Technical Specs

Runtime:

181 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Kageyama Shôi: He who shouts loudest isn't always the bravest.

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Connections

Referenced in Full Metal Jacket (1987)

User Reviews

Deeply Moving

It's been a long time since I've seen "Ningen no joken II", the second of Kibiyashi's trilogy: "The Human Condition". One scene (and you'll know it if you see the film) is one of the most visually stunning and heart wrenching in movie history. The rest of the film isn't far behind it with Tatsuya Nakadai giving a brilliant performance playing a good man caught in the monstrous jaws of history. Deeply moving.