An Overview

Cinema has played an important role in reflecting on the impact of conflict and war on society in various Asian countries. Through the lens of cinema, filmmakers have been able to highlight the human cost of war and provide a platform for reflection and discussion on these important issues. 

Movies like Grave of The Fireflies (1988) in Japan and Osama (2003) in Afghanistan portrayed the anti-war sentiment among the public. These movies focused more on the civilians than the soldiers and political leaders. Other movies like The Deer Hunter (1978) showed the flip side of the coin in the soldiers' emotions and their perspective during the war.

Propaganda, another aspect of conflict was depicted in movies like The Battle of Hong Kong (1942) in Hong Kong. These movies were made to promote the colonizers' ideologies and the army was shown as the heroic figure which saves the civilians. Japanese propaganda can also been seen in Korean cinema, in the form of Arirang (1926) where Koreans were painted in a negative light. Border (1997) depicted the bravery of Indian soldiers in fighting for their country in the India-Pakistan conflicts.

Censorship was another aspect that arose from conflict. After the Iranian revolution, movies that showed an 'overly Westernized perspective' were banned or censored. Famous directors like Jafer Panahi and Abbas Kehrostami were also victims of censorship.

War has had a profound impact on the cinema of various countries, from antiwar sentiment to propaganda and censorship. The devastating consequences of war have led many filmmakers to create works that depict the horrors of conflict, promote peace, and criticize the actions of governments and armies. At the same time, many governments have used cinema as a tool for propaganda, to control public opinion and promote their ideologies. This has led to censorship and the suppression of films that do not conform to the government's agenda. The intersection between conflict and cinema is a complex and fascinating one, revealing much about the societies and cultures that produce these films, and the ways in which they are shaped by the forces of war.