Review of The Human Condition I: No Greater Love

This is an amazing beginning to Kobayashi's trilogy. It follows humanist Kaji's assignment to a Japanese ore mine staffed mostly with Chinese laborers. The story follows Kaji's trials and tribulations as he is put in charge of the "special laborers" (aka Chinese prisoners of war).

Despite the fact that it is only one part of a trilogy the emotions and human experience No Greater Love touches on are sweeping. The film is filled with searing social commentary, highly politicized character battles and more personal dramatic stories. In the hands of a lesser craftsmen the inclusion of all of these story elements would likely leave quite a bit to be desired. At least one story arc would feel inferior or under developed. In the hands of Kobayashi, however, the mixture works beautifully. It helps that Tatsuya Nakadai gives an amazingly emotive performance in the lead role - giving what probably should be a one note character depth.

The film looks beautiful, deftly tells a complex story that touches on everything from the difficult history between the Japanese and Chinese to the complications of war to gender roles to (no matter how hokey it sounds) the power of love all the while serving up some great acting performances. It is three and a half hours long but the tale it tells is so gripping that it is really hard to turn it off or take a break. One of the best wartime dramas I've seen in any language.