The Sun

Only a great director in the prime of life could dare tackle portraits of three of the most significant historic figures of the 20th century. Sokurov has already provided his vision on Hitler (Moloch) and Lenin (Taurus). In The Sun, he shows several days from the life of the Japanese Emperor Hirohito, from the day before the Japanese capitulation. We see the Emperor – on that day still a God for his subjects – involved in his everyday activities, consulting with his adjutants, but also involved with his hobby, basically waiting for the arrival of the Americans in order to surrender. When they eventually come to fetch him, Hirohito has to take his leave of his divine status and submit to the wishes of General MacArthur. The fantastic Ogata Issey plays Hirohito in a minimal way, devoid of his voice, stylised and Chaplinesque (several times Yankees call him ‘Charlie’). An overly protected individual, but indeed involved in the horrors of the war, and yet susceptible to the reason of the enemy. In several regards, the film is a rather unusual Sokurov: The Sun has special effects, several jokes and is in both dramatic development and the use of space surprisingly clear and entertaining. The soundtrack, filled with beautiful electronic squeaking and grinding, bird sounds and deconstructed fragments of classical music, is a masterpiece in itself. (GT)

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