-
Saturday, May 2, 2009
2:45 PM
The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On
With his long, slight frame, Kenzo Okuzaki doesn't look like a man prone to violent rages-much less one who has been imprisoned for murder. Yet he believes that “violence is justified if the end result is good.” Okuzaki is a veteran of Japan's 36th Regiment, which fought in New Guinea in World War II. One of the regiment's few survivors, he feels indebted to his fallen brethren and sets out to “console their souls.” This consolation requires that he force former military officers to admit to illegal executions and other atrocities. Okuzaki's bullying tactics mix polite inquiry with accusatory tirades and physical violence. Hara followed Okuzaki for several years when making this documentary, gaining extraordinary footage but keeping a marked distance from the proceedings. Despite Okuzaki's frequently erratic and dangerous behavior, Hara never intervenes. Okuzaki seems quite conscious of Hara's camera; to him it is just another weapon in his arsenal, a tool in his crusade for truth.
This page may by only partially complete.