The Burmese Harp: The Masters of Cinema Series

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Certificate: 12
Running Time: 117
Retail Price: £22.99
Release Date:
Content Type: Movie

Synopsis:
A rhapsodic celebration of song, a brutal condemnation of wartime mentality, and a lyrical statement of hope within darkness; even amongst the riches of 1950s' Japanese cinema, The Burmese Harp, directed by Kon Ichikawa (Alone Across the Pacific, Tokyo Olympiad), stands as one of the finest achievements of its era.

At the close of World War II, a Japanese army regiment in Burma surrenders to the British. Private Mizushima is sent on a lone mission to persuade a trapped Japanese battalion to surrender also. When the outcome is a failure, he disguises himself in the robes of a Buddhist monk in hope of temporary anonymity as he journeys across the landscape - but he underestimates the power of his assumed role.

A visually extraordinary and deeply moving vision of horror, necessity, and redemption in the aftermath of war, Ichikawa's breakthrough film is one of the great humanitarian affirmations of the cinema.

Special Features:
• New, restored high-definition 1080p transfer officially licenced from Nikkatsu - Newly translated optional English subtitles
• Exclusive video interview with scholar and filmmaker Tony Rayns -• Original Japanese theatrical trailer
• A 40-page booklet with an essay by Keiko I. McDonald and rare archival stills.

Video Tracks:
Full Frame 1.37:1

Audio Tracks:
LPCM 2.0 Stereo Japanese

Subtitle Tracks:
English

Directed By:
Kon Ichikawa

Written By:


Starring:
Rentarô Mikuni
Shôji Yasui
Jun Hamamura
Taketoshi Naitô
Shunji Kasuga
Kô Nishimura
Keishichi Nakahara
Toshiaki Ito
Hiroshi Tsuchikata
Tomio Aoki
Nobuteru Hanamura
Sanpei Mine
Takashi Koshiba

Soundtrack By:
Akira Ifukube

Director of Photography:
Minoru Yokoyama

Editor:
Masanori Tsujii

Production Designer:
Takashi Matsuyama

Producer:
Masayuki Takaki

Distributor:
Eureka Entertainment

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