JAPAN
Wartime had a tremendous impact on Japanese filmmaking. During WWII, the Japanese government heavily censored and controlled film content to promote nationalistic propaganda and aid the war effort. They had to make videos that emphasized patriotism and allegiance. During this period, the topics of Japanese films were focused on the glorification of the military and the sacrifices made by Japanese soldiers. Films were also employed as a tool of propaganda, with messages reinforcing the concept of Japanese superiority. These films were intended to instill in the Japanese people a sense of solidarity and patriotism while portraying the enemy (particularly the United States) as ruthless and inhumane.
Even after the war, the Japanese authorities enforced subtly censored films on the bombings. Most major distribution companies were under pressure to either not release the film or to relegate it to substandard suburban theatres, which would damage the marketing effort and make the films less appealing to the audience. As a result, all of the films made during that period were produced independently. Children of Hiroshima, directed by Shindo Kaneto and premiered on August 6, 1952, to honour Hiroshima Memorial Day, was shot on the site of the blast. Several films explicitly avoided discussing Japanese responsibility for their own wartime behaviour. This is most noticeable in films like Black Rain (1989), Dreams (1990), and Rhapsody in August (1991). All these movies were focused on the trauma which was caused by the war and the bombing but left out the role Japan played in the war to face such consequences.
The government also imposed limitations on the usage of resources, such as film stock, making it difficult for filmmakers to create high-quality films. As a result, many Japanese films from this era were low-budget movies that reused footage. During the war, they also faced practical challenges. Film stock was scarce, and many studios were damaged or destroyed as a result of the bombardment. Furthermore, many actors and other industry professionals were drafted into the military, making film production difficult.
Following the war, the Allied occupation authorities imposed strict censorship on Japanese films to ensure that no elements that could be considered to promote militarism or nationalism were included. However, Japanese filmmakers found ways to express their thoughts and feelings about the war and its aftermath in their films in subtle ways. Films such as Barefoot Gen (1983) and Black Rain, for example, attempted to confront the horrors of war, focusing notably on the Hiroshima bombing, to portray the toll that war takes on people. On the other hand, films like Tokyo Story (1953) attempted to reconcile and make peace with the country's tragedy. There were no exceptions for anime. The explosive images continued to emerge in anime for many years following. Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira (1988), for example, provided a post-nuclear, postmodern fantasy of liberation and empowerment for Japanese youth.
Overall, wartime significantly impacted movie making in Japan, with government censorship and control restricting artistic expression and creativity. However, the legacy of wartime censorship and propaganda continued to shape the industry for many years to come.
Comments
Post a Comment