The Sun
Jan 08 - Jan 14, 2010
(Alexander Sokurov, 2005, Russia, Italy, France, Switzerland, Japan, 35mm, 110 min)
Russian filmmaker Alexander Sokurov is unquestionably one of today’s most accomplished directors. He is largely known for such ethereal works as Mother and Son (1997) and the one-take spellbinder Russian Ark (2002), films in which narrative and characterization are secondary to his unique, hauntingly dream-like stylistic approach. The Sun, the third of Sokurov’s explorations of powerful historical leaders (1999’s Moloch centered on Hitler, and 2001’s Taurus on Lenin), shares the same measured pacing, but it’s among his most engaging and compelling films to date, particularly suited for newcomers to Sokurov’s style.
The Sun offers a hypnotic and tragic account of the fall of Japan’s Emperor Hirohito following the end of World War II, wherein the Emperor renounced his status as divine ruler during the American occupation of his Japan in 1945. Sokurov’s film depicts the unlikely personal connection that between Hirohito (Issey Ogata) and American General Douglas MacArthur (Robert Dawson), as the two powerful figures met repeatedly to determine how a post-war Japan could ease itself into renewed independence—and how the Emperor, previously a sheltered figurehead with little connection to his own populace, could face an uncertain future.
The Sun, like all Sokurov films, is a challenging film experience. But it is also a masterpiece that reaffirms the acclaim this filmmaker has received from artists as varied as Susan Sontag and Martin Scorsese.
Watch the Japanese Trailer (Japanese Subtitles):
