Lorelei (2005)

Directors:

Shinji Higuchi
Cellin Gluck

Writers:

Harutoshi Fukui (novel)
Satoshi Suzuki (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 March 2005 (Japan)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller | War

Plot:

A drama set during World War II where a submarine carrying a secret weapon attempts to stop a planned third atomic bombing of Japan. Based on Harutoshi Fukui's novel Shuusen no Lorelei. |

Plot Keywords:

Submarine | Secret Weapon | Japan | Weapon | Explosion

Cast

Kôji Yakusho	...	Masami Shin'ichi
Satoshi Tsumabuki	...	Yukito Origasa
Toshirô Yanagiba	...	Kizaki Toshiro
Yu Kashii	...	Paula Atsuko Ebner
Shin'ichi Tsutsumi	...	Asakura Ryokitsu
Ken Ishiguro	...	Narumi Takasu
Colter Allison	...	Lt. Eric Minott
David Austin	...	Lt. Dodet
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nicholas Dombrovskis	...	German Scientist
Christopher Ryan Doyle	...	Captain's Talker
Norman England	...	Sonar Operator #1
Caroline Paris Gluck	...	Girl on Beach
Isao Hashizume	...	Sadamoto Nishimiya
Masatô Ibu	...	Eitaro Narazaki
Takaya Kamikawa	...	Man
Kreva	...	Shunpei Komatsu
Jun Kunimura	...	Matoi Tokioka
Matt Lagan	...	Submarine captain
Dave Monahan	...	Radio Operator
Takehiko Ono	...	Shichigoro Iwamura
Shûgo Oshinari
Tyrone Power Jr.	...	US Battleship Captain
Ryûta Satô	...	Kikuo Kiyonaga
Fred Spiker	...	Warrant Officer Nick Nelson
Pierre Taki	...	Tokutaro Taguchi
Yoshiyuki Tomino	...	Ouwada
Shingo Tsurumi	...	Sankichi Oominato

Also Known As:

Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean (International: English title)

Runtime:

Japan:128 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Taiwan:GP | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-13 | Japan:G

Filming Locations:

Toho Studios, Tokyo, Japan

Company:

Cine Bazar

Trivia:

The design of the I-507 submarine is based upon a real one : the french submarine 'Surcouf', launched in 1929, was the biggest submarine ever launched at the time.

Soundtrack:

Wiegenlied (Cradle Song)

Great Production - Problematic Story - Recycled Philosophy

Excellent direction and acting highlight this WW2 fantasy which build upon a film genre that doesn't get much play outside Japan, the Japanese WW2 drama. Hundreds of war films have been made since the US occupation after the war. Most of the films are about the human tragedy of the war instead of glorifying the effort to create a racist empire. As a side note which relates to this film in an way, Eji Tsuburaya, the special effect mastermind behind the Godzilla films, never thought much about his monster effects. He was always the most proud of his work recreating WW2 battles and we in the US never have seen this work.

The plot is well described elsewhere here so I'll skip to other points about the film. The production is very well done and realist-looking most of the time. I am sort of sorry that they introduced a number of fantasy elements to the story that just upset the atmosphere for me. Somehow the Nazis managed to create a holographic radar system and made only one which they gave to the Japanese instead of using for themselves. On top of that the system requires a psychic/empath to be attached to it by tubes. On top of that they somehow have a beautiful Japanese girl who was sent to the concentration camps before she was experimented on and attached to the system. On top of that somehow her operatic singing has the ability to pass thru walls, seawater and broadcast itself over the radio. The idea that the US was preparing to bomb Tokyo with a third atom bomb wasn't much of a problem although the historical record indicates that the two bombs were all the US had at the time.

As mentioned here already also, I felt like I was watching an episode of Leiji Matsumoto's Space Pirate Captain Harlock during a rousing speech about free will. Believe me it's much more convincing coming out of the anime character's mouth if you have the luxury of comparison. The CGI effects were mostly video game cut scene quality and the depiction of sea battles were unrealistic. The sub-plot about military commanders taking over is based on actual events at the same time but what happens in the film is a very strange comment on the opinions of actual Japanese war veterans who agree with the US decision to drop the atomic bomb.

OK film not for heavy thinking.