GRANDSCOPE
A SHOCHIKU FILM
THE HUMAN CONDITION
Developed by BUNGEI PRODUCTION and NINJIN CLUB
Presented by KABUKI PRODUCTION
Produced by SHIGERU WAKATSUKI
Based on the Novel by JUNPEI GOMIKAWA
Screenplay by ZENZO MATSUYAMA and MASAKI KOBAYASHI
Director of Photography YOSHIO MIYAJIMA
Production Design KAZUE HIRATAKA Sound Recording HIDEO NISHIZAKI
Music CHUJI KINOSHITA
Lighting TAKASHI KATO Editing KEIICHI URAOKA
1st Ass't Director YUGORO IMAI
Ass't. Director KOICHI INAGAKI Ass't Camera TOSHITADA NAGUMO
Ass't Production Design JUSHO TODA Set Decoration KYOJI SASAKI
Set Design YOJI MURO
Production Manager TATSUO OSAWA
Starring
TATSUYA NAKADAI as Kaji
MICHIYO ARATAMA as Michiko
CHIKAGE AWASHIMA as Jin Tung Fu INEKO ARIMA as Yang Chun Lan
SO YAMAMURA as Okishima AKIRA ISHIHAMA as Chen
SHINJI NANBARA as Kao
SEIJI MIYAGUCHI as Wang Heng Li TORU ABE as Sergeant Watai
MASAO MISHIMA as Kuroki EITARO OZAWA as Okazaki
KOJI MITSUI as Furuya AKITAKE KONO as Captain Kono
NOBUO NAKAMURA as Head Office Chief KYU SAZANKA as Cho Meisan
Directed by MASAKI KOBAYASHI
PART 2
I feel wonderful!
We arrived in a whirl of dust, but it's so nice today.
Worried about work? - No.
Just wondering why I didn't do this before.
- Really? - I mean it.
I'll phone Yasuko first thing and tell her to take the day off.
Would you mind?
And then what?
We'll have lunch together and then go to the apple orchard.
It's so wonderful! I feel as light as a balloon!
Allow me just one thing.
What?
Let me go for just one hour?
What for?
With our increased production, I'd like to talk to the main office
about treating the special laborers like the ordinary laborers.
Just one hour?
- The rest of my time is all yours. - All right.
I'll give you two hours, but not a minute more.
Mr. Kaji!
- They broke out again. - What?
Where's Okishima? - At their camp.
All right. I'll be right there.
I don't want you to go.
I have no choice.
You go have a good time with Yasuko.
Yasuko isn't you.
- But this is my job... - I don't care!
You're officially on vacation. They can't make you go back.
Leave it to Okishima. I'll wait till after lunch, okay?
I'll never finish by then.
You just don't want to go.
Don't be foolish!
Your work's important,
but don't you see how important this is for us?
I'll make up for it next time.
You needn't bother!
Why so angry over such a small thing?
Such a small thing?
You don't seem to care how I feel.
At any rate, I can't just leave now.
I see.
Then I'll go on alone.
Stop it!
From now on, I do things my way!
- And ruin everything? - They'll understand my fist!
Hitting them won't bring back the others!
Do you realize how many got away?
Eighteen men, led by Hwang and Sung!
Still think words will help?
- I'll assume all responsibility. - You fool!
If you don't like my methods, you can quit.
You won't be dragged before the Kenpeitai.
Fine!
Wang!
Stand up!
I've given up on all of you. You said you'd wait.
You might think I'm a fool, but even a fool has limits!
Another escape and you'll all go without food for three days.
I'll turn your men against you and break your authority in this camp!
You Japanese are all the same!
Fine!
Then I'll act accordingly. All promises are hereby retracted.
Now I realize there can be no trust between us.
Mr. Okishima!
How will you report this to the Kenpeitai?
They won't let us off easy this time.
- I won't report the incident. - What?
If it leaks out, I'll assume all responsibility.
I don't think it was all your responsibility.
You think someone shut off the power?
I couldn't say.
Shall I put only Japanese on night duty there?
You can't do that without evidence.
Shall I increase the night watch around the fence?
I'd have to check that they're at their posts.
Eighteen men... that's a big loss!
I've achieved the 20% increase in production.
I don't want trouble now over something like this.
I forgot: Okishima is hereby relieved
of all responsibility for the special prisoners.
I don't know!
Damned Chinaman!
Son of a bitch!
Tell me!
Who paid you?
Okishima favors drastic measures, but Kaji always stops him.
Meaning he gives tacit consent to the runaways?
I wouldn't say that,
but it does all seem rather suspicious.
There is one way to teach them a lesson.
How?
We let them plan another break and then foil them.
With your permission, I'd like to try.
Sounds intriguing.
I'll try anything that brings results.
Give it a try.
Boss's orders.
We're distributing flour and oil. Only to the Japanese, of course.
I'm sure you don't approve.
I do not.
Unfortunately, you're not the manager.
I'm sure you're happy I'm not.
Mr. Kaji, it's Mr. Okishima!
Filthy scum!
Son of a bitch!
Kill the rat!
Let him have it!
Mr. Okishima, let us handle that Korean dog!
Stay out of this! Filthy dog!
Swipe men from under my nose, eh?
Bastard!
Not stopping me today?
You want me to?
Don't look so disapproving.
Should I go easy on the regular workers too?
Your clumsy humanism kills good men and lets scoundrels run wild.
Chen, take him to the medical ward.
Do no such thing! His boss will pick him up.
Take him!
Go call Furuya.
Don't worry, young one. I won't talk.
Chen, it seems I know more about you than you do about me.
Go back and tell Kaji his wounds aren't serious.
It's better if Kaji doesn't come around here.
Well? How is he?
He seems all right.
Mr. Furuya is with him.
Furuya?
Furuya, send a telegram to Muta.
That rat Okishima!
He says he's going to sue Okishima.
Help him arrange it. You two seem friendly enough.
Don't bother explaining! Think I'm that stupid?
Was it the money? Or just to make trouble for me?
Don't worry. I won't tell the boss.
See that your buddy is hospitalized.
But you're paying for him... not Labor!
You probably made plenty.
Where you been hidin'?
What's wrong with you?
Drunk, I see.
Think I got drunk and came to make trouble?
I had a drink with the boss, but I'm not drunk.
I have some hot news.
They're issuing commendations for the increased production.
Okazaki will surely be included.
I told the boss you were the only one in Labor
who deserved a commendation.
The boss felt the same way,
but he feared that this old-timer might feel slighted.
You don't think I'd feel slighted, do you?
Why have you suddenly turned to brute force?
The boss asked the same thing.
I was born a brute... good enough?
How long do you plan to keep on like this?
Meaning what?
Straddling a fundamental contradiction and trying to justify it.
I'm out of breath.
If I'm being a nuisance, just say so and I'll back off.
Kao!
Chun Lan!
I was afraid you might have escaped.
That's all I could buy today.
Thank you.
Thank you!
We can't meet for the time being.
We can't come here.
If you run off by yourself...
I'll kill myself.
I'll take you with me when I escape.
When?
After I learn how the others have fared.
I can't take any chances if I take you along.
Stay here.
They might let us marry.
Don't believe them!
Wang says the war will end soon.
Japan will be defeated.
Now that I have you...
I'm willing to bear anything.
Kao!
I wish we could meet like this every night.
But if they start suspecting us...
then it's all over.
This cursed wire!
Careful!
Why do the gods torment us like this?
Chun Lan...
I love you!
And I love you!
Can't you sleep?
Kaji would have been happier married to a girl like you.
You're too much the wife, Michi.
You're forgetting to be a woman.
What do you mean?
Being a wife is a kind of profession,
but it's the woman that men love.
When you typed Kaji's reports, you studied them like one possessed.
I never understood a word.
And now? Do you ask him about his work?
He doesn't like me asking questions.
If I were you, I'd pester him until he told me everything.
Then I'd ask even more questions.
What's wrong? Did I go too far?
I'm sorry about yesterday.
I failed as a wife and as a woman.
I couldn't sleep.
This is your home.
You can sleep soundly here.
Promise you'll share both your joys and sorrows with me.
Sorrow for one is enough.
It's not!
I'm walking down the same path you are.
It's okay if I lose my way.
Just tell me we might get lost and take me along.
I'll follow you...
and do my best to keep up.
I understand.
If I don't walk fast enough,
will you wait just a tiny bit for me?
Just a very tiny bit?
Of course.
I'll never ask you the same question twice.
"Through fitting leadership in the pit,
you have helped achieve a 20% increase in ore production.
At this hour of dire national emergency,
you've rendered a valuable service to our armed forces
and set a fitting example for other employees.
You are hereby officially commended.
September 23, 1943.
Chairman of the board Jushiro Kitada.
Read in proxy by Junichi Kuroki."
Looks like we'll have rain.
Rainy nights are ideal for escape attempts.
When you deliver their dinner,
tell them arrangements have been made. They can break out tonight.
Tonight?
Then go to the power station
and tell them Kaji says to cut the power.
But Mr. Kaji would never...
I'm acting under direct orders from the boss.
You want me to tell the Kenpeitai about you?
About how you and Jin Tung Fu aided the plotters,
and how Kaji knew but pretended not to see?
It's the only way to save your neck.
As ships at sea part the great white waves
So do I part my loved one's thighs
Mr. Kaji, I look forward to your continued favor.
You're young, but you're quite a fellow!
No, a great fellow!
The day you arrived it was snowing...
No, it was windy.
Really? Windy?
That day I thought
a young squirt like you could never handle this mine.
But things really did work out as you said.
You're really something!
But Mr. Kaji...
I've been watching.
You haven't been drinking.
Give me a hand?
If you want to try, tonight is your last chance.
Why the sudden rush?
If the timing's no good, just forget it.
But my friend's being moved to the day shift tomorrow.
You sure about this?
On behalf of the men in the pit
and in the spirit of friendship,
I challenge Mr. Kaji to a friendly drinking bout.
Hear! Hear!
I concede defeat.
No, you can't!
We haven't even started yet!
No, I really do.
Mr. Kaji...
do you only show spirit when you're snarling at me?
Come on. Be a man!
All right! I'm ready!
Use this.
Get drunk and let down your guard for once.
That's right!
Okay, let's begin.
Show 'em, Mr. Kaji!
- That's the way! - More!
Those boys in Labor are used to being wined and dined by the bosses.
They get the women too!
They run the whorehouse and have their pick.
So we're wined and dined, eh?
And the whores are ours for the taking?
Fine! Bring on your wine and women! I'll take 'em on!
Chen.
All done delivering their meals?
This is a special ration ticket for Japanese only.
You're welcome to mine.
- But your wife... - She's given up hope.
Mr. Kaji.
No, nothing.
I just wanted to say thank you.
It's me who should thank you.
I was afraid you wouldn't accept it now.
There's a nice ass!
Hey, lady-killer!
Tops in Japan!
Back off! Still in heat at your age?
What if I am?
Go sow your seed in your own rice paddies!
I wouldn't act so big, Okishima.
If you and Kaji would mind your own business,
I could have topped our production goal long ago.
And you'd have 10 murders on your record now.
You'd be having dinner in jail!
Bastard!
If you want trouble, come on.
Chen, what's the matter?
What should I do?
I won't be able to see you again.
I've fallen into a trap!
Go to the station and have him cut off the power.
If I do that...
and the men are captured...
they'll kill me!
This is a Japanese plot.
No matter what happens, you won't be killed.
You speak as if this didn't concern you.
If I'm caught, I might confess everything.
Don't threaten me.
You dragged me into this!
- Where are you going? - To warn them.
You'll never get word to them.
I can try.
Wait! I have a better idea.
Chun Lan.
Kao is breaking out tonight.
Kao is breaking out?
Go tell him it's too dangerous.
I won't let him escape alone!
Drink. It'll relax you.
I couldn't contact him. Are you sure he plans to escape?
You met no one?
With this downpour, I couldn't see a thing.
Not a soul?
Is he really breaking out?
What'll we do now?
If he runs off by himself...
I'll kill myself!
The power must be cut off! We mustn't anger the Japanese.
What should we do?
The best way is to confess the whole thing to Mr. Kaji.
No! He's the worst of them all!
Where are you going?
Go to the power station!
You little punk!
I expected as much.
Did you do as I told you?
Yes.
You didn't mention the matter to Kaji, did you?
No.
We'll find out in a moment...
whether you did as ordered.
If you betrayed us, it's a bullet in your head.
We'll report that we caught you helping the men escape.
It'll even mean a reward.
They're coming!
Mr. Furuya.
The power... I didn't...
What?
Son of a bitch!
Bastard! You want to die?
I never dreamt that Chen might plot something like this.
I've been blind.
Furuya!
Blind because I never thought you capable of such a diabolical plot!
Go brag to the boss of your brave deed!
Wang!
You're not always right either.
Your failed leadership caused this.
You refused to trust us.
The result is charred human flesh. It serves you right!
Kao!
Why did you do it?
It was so foolish!
Kao!
You're alive!
Chun Lan!
Look at the man whose mistake killed his own friends!
Okishima came to tell me about it.
Why didn't Chen come to me?
He was probably afraid to.
Because I hit him?
Okishima told me
you'd take it really hard.
It's not my fault that I'm Japanese...
yet it's my worst crime that I am!
Chen was kind to you even though I struck him.
He understood how I felt.
Yet look what happened.
That son a bitch Furuya!
The boss put him up to this.
They'll never meddle in Labor affairs again!
Let's go home.
Some nice hot soup will help you feel better.
Yes, let's.
Let's go home.
I wish you'd ask the main office about getting the Kenpeitai
to let us treat these prisoners like ordinary laborers.
But I know I asked you to stay out of my affairs.
Don't worry. I'll do it.
My trip will cool us both off. It'll be my present to you.
Seems the boss considers Okazaki more indispensable than me.
I'm boarding this run-down truck,
but you're trying to catch the train of humanism before it's too late.
I won't stop you.
You seem willing to pay the fare, no matter how high.
Am I making trouble by coming here?
I already offered my apologies.
Leave us alone.
From now on, we'll have to escape from the work areas.
Wang wants us to lie low for a while.
And there's been no news from the others.
What's going on here?
Run!
Bastards! You dare resist?
Get back here!