Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle

Although a little bit long, this is about offering us to share a rather unique and captivating life experience, that of brainwashed Japanese soldiers who only stopped the war 30 years after the capitulation. I appreciated the warm and moist beauty of the jungle and the tropical forest, the change of scenery provided, the sober image which seems authentic and of the period, the "film" aspect and documentary grain. Documentary also as long as there is no lady state. Innocent people go there. The story that is told to us is quite simply captivating and I would not have believed that this anecdote from History, which could be summed up in a few lines, could fit into such a great film. With hindsight, however, I can understand that it does not please some who would fall into boredom; with this film it's a bit all or nothing, you have to succeed in immersing yourself. It is a French film, and as such it must be emphasized that it is a nugget.

This is a crazy movie. 10,000 days surviving in the jungle whilst still believing that WW2 was still happening. That's from until 1973...long long after the WW2 units were dissolved by the Japanese army yet his unit was the last one. Ever. It's a great angle on how good Japanese soldiers are. There's plenty of honour and Bushido ways. The old samurai war code. It's honour code is upholded brilliantly by Onoda. The footage is great. Lots of raining jungle scenes. It's authentic. It's gritty. You feel the action. The wounds. The pain. The isolation. Not eating meat for weeks. Not having a descent normal diet or lifestyle. There's also a strong sense of opposition propaganda with the disinformation war. Despite being told from various sources at various times that the war has finished Onoda refuses to believe. Why? Because of his training and his rigorous following of his honour code. It's really marvelous film and I'm so glad that it opened at Cannes' weekend as so many great indie gems don't get the exposure they deserve. Another fabulous Third Windows' Films release. Superb. Cheers Adam and team.