The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (1959)
Ningen no jôken (original title)Reference View | Change View
- Not Rated
- 3h 28min
- Drama, History
- 14 Dec 1959 (USA)
- Movie
A Japanese pacifist, unable to face the dire consequences of conscientious objection, is transformed by his attempts to compromise with the demands of war-time Japan.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 5 wins & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
Directed by
| Masaki Kobayashi | ||
Written by
| Zenzô Matsuyama | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Masaki Kobayashi | ... | (screenplay) |
| Jumpei Gomikawa | ... | (novel) (as Junpei Gomikawa) |
Produced by
| Shigeru Wakatsuki | ... | producer |
Music by
| Chûji Kinoshita | ||
Cinematography by
| Yoshio Miyajima | ||
Editing by
| Keiichi Uraoka | ||
Art Direction by
| Kazue Hirataka | ||
Production Management
| Shigeru Wakatsuki | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Yûgorô Imai | ... | assistant director |
| Kôichi Inagaki | ... | assistant director |
Art Department
| Shigemasa Toda | ... | assistant art director |
Sound Department
| Hideo Nishizaki | ... | sound recordist |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Takao Kajihara | ... | still photographer |
| Toshitada Nagumo | ... | assistant camera |
| Kiichi Ôkura | ... | assistant gaffer |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Brandon Films (1959) (United States) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Rome International Films (1961) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Atlas (1961) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Europa Film (1962) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Gala Film Distributors (1961) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Shochiku (1959) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Image Entertainment (United States) (DVD)
- The Criterion Collection (2009) (United States) (DVD)
- Winkler Film (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
First of a trilogy of films. During the Second World War, a Japanese conscientious objector named Kaji works as a supervisor in a Manchurian prison camp. He hopes to avoid duty as a soldier, but he also hopes to be helpful to the welfare of his prisoners. An escape attempt by Chinese prisoners results in Kaji's arrest for collusion. He faces the possibility of transferral to combat--or worse.
Written by Jim Beaver |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | An extraordinary picture of man's fate and man's hope... See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | According to Tatsuya Nakadai, a marathon screening of the entire nine-and-a-half-hour "Human Condition" trilogy is held once a year in Japan, and he has once or twice attended these screenings, which are always sold out. See more » |
| Goofs | At one point a Japanese guard begins to whip Kao, yet the motions he makes are just a flailing of his arms, visibly missing the actor. Kao retaliates by throwing a rock at the guard, but the rock never strikes the guard. However, the actor playing the guard overreacts as if he has been struck. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Followed by The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (1959). See more » |
| Quotes |
Kaji:
[discussing the pardoning of prisoners due to be executed for an alleged escape attempt]
I'll be honest. There's only one chance in one hundred. Kyôritsu Ô: This does not concern us alone. Just as my companions stand between life and death, so do you now stand at an important crossroads. Kaji: You're right. Kyôritsu Ô: If you fail now, no one will ever trust you again, and you too will lose faith in yourself. Kaji: It's true. Kyôritsu Ô: Yet you would do nothing? Kaji: What can I do? Kyôritsu Ô: Must a man outside this barbed wire ask me such a question? Not all the Japanese working here are murderous devils. Their combined opinion objecting to this execution will be more effective than one individual alone. Kaji: If I'd always acted as you wanted me to there'd be no Kaji here today. I'd like to see what you'd do in my position. Kyôritsu Ô: You and I will both make minor mistakes. Such things can be forgiven. But an error made at a crucial moment is an unforgivable crime. Your life has been a series of errors stemming from the conflict between your work and yourself. Such errors can possibly be corrected. But this one cannot. Kaji: Meaning? Kyôritsu Ô: You'll either be revealed as a murderer wearing the mask of humanism or as one worthy of the beautiful name... "man". See more » |