A SHOCHIKU FILM
THE HUMAN CONDITION
Presented by BUNGEI PRODUCTION and NINJIN CLUB
Produced by SHIGERU WAKATSUKI and MASAKI KOBAYASHI
Based on the Novel by JUNPEI GOMIKAWA
Screenplay by ZENZO MATSUYAMA, KOICHI INAGAKI and MASAKI KOBAYASHI
Director of Photography YOSHIO MIYAJIMA
Production Design KAZUE HIRATAKA Music CHUJI KINOSHITA
Sound Recording HIDEO NISHIZAKI Lighting AKIRA AOMATSU
Editing KEIICHI URAOKA Ass't Producer TOSHIO SHIMIZU
Production Manager ZENPEI MORIYAMA 1st Ass't Director KOICHI INAGAKI
Assistant Directors TAKESHI YOSHIDA, KANYA OTSU
Assistant Camera SHUROKU UTSUMI
Set Design TAKAMASA KOBAYASHI
Set Decoration TETSUJI YAMAZAKI
Starring
TATSUYA NAKADAI as Kaji
MICHIYO ARATAMA as Michiko
TAMAO NAKAMURA - Refugee YUSUKE KAWAZU - Terada
CHISHU RYU as Old Man in Refugee Camp
TAKETOSHI NAITO - Tange KYOKO KISHIDA - Tatsuko REIKO HITOMI - Umeko
KEIJIRO MOROZUMI - Hironaka KOJI KIYOMURA - Hikita NOBUO KANEKO - Kirihara
FUJIO SUGA, TATSUYA ISHIGURO KAZUO KITAMURA
TOSHIO TAKAHARA, AKIRA YAMANOUCHI, HIROSHI NIHONYANAGI
ED KEENE - Russian Officer RONALD SELF - Chapayev
HIDEKO TAKAMINE as Woman in Refugee Camp
Directed by MASAKI KOBAYASHI
PART 5
Right smack in enemy territory. What do we do now?
One of two things:
We could run for it...
Through those headlights?
What's the other choice?
If we could distract him for just 30 seconds,
we could cut across here.
Kaji, can't you shoot him from here?
While you run for it?
Nice idea, but what happens to me?
What else can we do?
You're the bayonet expert. Sneak up and stab him.
What do we do?
What are you going to do?
If they catch me, just start running.
Sir, look! Blood!
Fighting those Soviet troops...
I was responsible only for isolated shots
amid countless millions of rounds fired.
But this morning...
Michiko...
I'm a murderer.
These hands that once caressed you
killed a man in cold blood.
Just to cross the road to safety!
Was I justified?
Or was it wanton murder?
Michiko...
will you decide for me?
Sir.
Sir, tell me how you did it.
Don't ask useless questions!
It got us across that road.
Concentrate on what lies ahead instead.
Where you headed?
We hope to get to Mutankiang.
It's that way.
But you're wasting your time.
The enemy got there first.
Really?
What about yourself?
I'm headed for Korea.
Closer to home than Manchuria.
And your unit?
I had one until yesterday.
Watch out for the Korean-Manchurian border.
It's controlled by Kim II Sung.
Is that right?
Then I'll just be another Red.
What's "comrade" in Chinese and Korean?
It's tongzhi in Chinese. In Korean I think it's tongmu.
Tongzhi and tongmu, eh?
Thanks. That's all I'll need.
See ya.
Tongzhi and tongmu, eh?
You look strong and healthy, my tongzhi!
A real crackpot.
Probably a deserter, the rat!
Should've gotten his name and rank.
What for?
To report him later.
Fool.
You calling me a fool?
I only let you take charge because you know this area.
I'm still an NCO. I won't be insulted!
As long as you're with me, I give the orders.
Forget about rank.
While we're at it, let's get something else clear.
You listen too, Terada.
I didn't expect Mutankiang to fall so soon.
The Kwangtung Army must essentially be wiped out...
so I'm no longer concerned about rejoining them.
Then what do we do?
We go back to our former lives.
South Manchuria lies in that direction.
My former life awaits me there.
And I'll do my best
to get you back to your former lives.
If you don't agree, we can part ways now.
We decide right here. How about it?
We'll run into friendly forces somewhere.
Whoever wants to can join them.
Not "whoever wants to" - it's our duty!
You can't just ignore the soldier's code.
What we need now is the defeated man's code.
If you want to go on soldiering, take Terada and go.
I'm going this way.
Kaji, will we ever get out of here?
We walk and walk, but it's all the same.
It's been two days.
- We have no map or compass. - We've followed you -
We'll get nowhere unless we keep walking - I know that.
We're out of my territory.
It must be a river!
A river!
You're our saviors.
It's like meeting Buddha in hell.
Thank goodness. My breasts will be full of milk tonight.
Soldier, we've hardly eaten in five days.
Divide this among yourselves.
What do you think? Do we take them along?
I'm considering it. We can't very well leave them.
This is all the food we have left.
I'll keep that from now on.
- I'm not taking it all! - I wouldn't put it beyond you!
The soldiers didn't say it was just for you.
You didn't bring any rations when you joined us.
Can't you behave? Coming on to the soldiers!
We shared with you at the cost of our babies' milk.
Whores!
So what if we are?
We'll let the soldiers decide.
They won't share with us because we're prostitutes.
What's wrong with them?
They've mooched off us ever since we escaped.
You ran to us when the Russians were going to rape your women.
Enough!
We'll all share.
If you want to argue, we leave you behind.
Oh, for a dumpling the size of a woman's rear end!
I'd settle for a bellyful of cold rice and miso soup.
Soldiers, please don't go on about food anymore.
You're right. It just makes us hungrier.
Kaji, aren't these edible?
They're snails.
Mmm, it's good!
It may not be beef, ma'am,
but it's fine once you swallow.
He's right.
Let's try a little.
If only the Kwangtung Army had done its job.
They were all so tough until the fighting started.
We fought!
We're the only three left out of 160 men.
Fine, but couldn't they have evacuated the women and children?
We went out of our way to cooperate with the army.
And made a tidy profit, eh?
Speak for yourself!
Please, can't you keep that baby quiet?
Get some sleep. Arguing won't get us any food.
Mommy!
You can't eat those!
Your next nap will be your last.
You soldiers are lucky. You don't have children.
We can't keep up with you.
Soldiers, no matter how far we go, we'll never find our paradise.
That's not my fault.
PFC Kaji's got a bit of paradise left in his pouch.
- What happened to the others? - Who cares?
Damn it! They just keep holding us back.
Kaji, let's cook the rest of the rice.
No, not until we know we can find our way out
or we're ready to lie down and die.
You all right? Don't give up.
You waited for us?
You're tougher than I expected.
Well, if you men desert us, we're finished.
Come on, just a little further.
I won't let you die by yourself.
I'm sorry we're so slow.
Age is such a burden.
We'll just walk until we can't anymore.
I'll always be at your side.
Who's that?
You're not the only one starving.
If I don't eat, my baby will die. And my husband!
Just like the rest of us!
Just a little
for my baby and husband.
I won't take any for myself.
No.
If you're so hungry, eat the grass!
My baby will die.
My baby...
will die!
I don't know who among us will survive...
but this rice is for them, not for the dying.
You going to eat it alone?
If we don't find our way out tomorrow, we'll all be dead anyway.
Stay alive if you want to eat. Now shut up and sleep.
Somebody help!
My baby!
What'll I do?
My baby's dead!
Someone help me!
Call a doctor!
Shut up!
We're all dying. How about your husband?
Somebody do something! It's driving me crazy!
Let her cry it out.
Let's push on or we'll all die!
Come on, get up! Get up!
We have to go on!
Shut up!
Well, no yakitori for dinner.
Some marksman.
Sorry. My eyes are failing.
Where are the others?
The teacher...
told us to go on ahead.
And the merchant's family?
They suddenly doubled up in pain
and vomited what looked like blood.
Toadstools?
If you want to kill yourselves, take my gun.
Anyone else eat that stuff?
Sure. It looked good.
They ate some.
We don't need any more help from you.
We'll live or die as we please.
Let me bury the child.
Carrying it around won't bring it back to life.
You killed this child!
They died like flies today.
Where's your family?
What's it to you?
Nothing. Just asking.
I put 'em out of their misery.
Seems we weren't the only ones lost in here.
I won't give up!
Can we make it out?
We'll know tomorrow.
We caught them. We're entitled to keep one.
No, we share equally.
You couldn't even hit that bird, so don't play squad leader.
We're eating one.
Just try it.
I missed the bird, but I won't miss you.
You're not the only one who can use a rifle!
Stop it!
Stop acting like children.
You're right.
What's gotten into us?
Kaji, we'll share the snake if you'll ration out the rice.
Wait till tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow...
will we make it out of here?
I don't know.
But here's how I look at it:
When my unit was wiped out,
shells burst right in front of me, but I survived.
So I don't think I'll die in this forest.
So if I stick with you, I won't die either.
I'd like you to think so.
Wherever you go, I will always be with you.
Always!
We'll have to walk long and hard tomorrow.
I wonder how things are in south Manchuria.
I have a sister there. My only living kin.
She's not like me.
Is that where you're going?
Will you take me there?
I hope south Manchuria is still safe.
It has to be.
This is the last of it.
I'm breaking out of this forest today come what may.
I won't stop until I reach homes or farmland.
Stick with me if you don't want to die.
Shit!
He's a fast walker!
I'd keep up with him if I weren't injured.
Kaji, you called me a fool once.
I won't forget that.
You also saved me from those tanks.
I won't forget that either.
What kind of guy are you anyway?
Shit!
The bastard!
Where does that dog get all that energy anyway?
Damn! If we find friendly forces, I'll be disgraced!
A full corporal taking orders from a private!
I should've died a hero's death in action.
I'd be in a fancy coffin at Yasukuni Shrine.
Fools!
We'll never make it out of these woods.
Help will come when it comes.
To hell with this. I give up!
What do you think, boss?
I think he's taking us in the wrong direction.
He's heading for Vladivostok.
I couldn't care less.
I'm giving up.
We'll be left behind.
Ume-chan, get up!
Let me be...
Can I keep walking?
Where am I headed anyway?
All this walking...
is it just a waste of time?
Has south Manchuria become
just another mass grave for the Japanese?
Maybe there's nowhere left for the Japanese to go.
Wait! Don't kill her!
I'm coming back to face charges.
Michiko...
are you still alive?
Do you realize that I'm walking like this
to return to your side?
Will we reach farmland today?
Terada!
What's that?
What do you think it is?
A house?
Other human beings!
A house - it has to be!
Wait, it's too soon to rejoice.
We'll wait here for the others.
- Ushijima Unit from Seiundai? - Yes, sir.
The Doi work party?
Yes, sir.
Ushijima Battalion was wiped out.
What happened to Lieutenant Doi?
Killed in action, sir.
Then why are you still alive?
Why didn't you press on in a final attack?
Your commanders are dead, yet you dare live on?
You must be deserters.
And bringing a woman along - such indiscretion! Explain yourself!
I offer no explanation. You deny our request for food?
I do!
My unit's to make a final stand at the Korean-Manchurian border.
We have no supplies for cowards.
Now get out of here!
Loiter here and we'll hang you all.
Captain Nagata, was it?
Keep your food and your damned lectures.
I'll blow your head off! Nobody move!
Terada and Hikita, shoot anyone who moves.
Look at these idiots in full battle dress! What "final stand"!
If you don't want to give us food, just say so!
Our men were wiped out so you could run! I'll blow you to bits!
Kaji, while we were scaring those filthy rats,
we should've filched some supplies.
To hell with supplies! That bastard!
Corporal Hironaka,
those are the friendly forces you wanted to join.
And that slob was a captain!
Someone's coming.
Nice work, Kaji. Remember me?
Tange!
That's right. It's Tange.
You scared the hell out of me, firing at us like that.
Look at that beard.
You've sure changed.
When it's kill or be killed, you change.
Well, we can talk later.
Eat some of this.
It's not over yet, is it?
It must be.
If it does end, what will be the outcome?
Like Germany: Unconditional surrender.
That's probably true,
but I mean after that.
What about guys like us?
I mean, what happens to the people?
That's the big question.
If we lose, wouldn't our country be wiped out?
Our country? What's that?
The country you were taught to know will be dead...
and that's how it should be.
We've been struggling to survive...
to see if a country can take its place where men are free.
That's the big question.
I hope democratic forces
will unite to cope with this defeat.
"Democratic forces" - is there such a thing in Japan?
Japan's full of helpless creatures like myself... or worse.
They can do nothing.
Why so bitter? The test is yet to come.
That's not the point.
We became soldiers...
and fought in battle.
We were wiped out, and now we plod along.
We killed, and we deserted our buddies.
"Cope with defeat," you say.
How many of us are even capable or worthy of that?
That's enough.
Even your ideals seem starved.
I found a corn field!
He's fast asleep.
He seems greatly relieved ever since you joined us.
Seems he had it rough.
But I'm amazed at how you've kept up with him.