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The Human Condition I: No Greater Love
First of a trilogy of films. During the Second World War, a Japanese conscientious objector named Kaji works as a supervisor in a Manchurian prison camp. He hopes to avoid duty as a soldier, but he also hopes to be helpful to the welfare of his prisoners. An escape attempt by Chinese prisoners results in Kaji's arrest for collusion. He faces the possibility of transferral to combat -- or worse
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The Human Condition I: No Greater Love

1959
Drama, War
3h 28m
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Avg Percentile 81.88% from 536 total ratings

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(536)
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Rated 07 Oct 2009
4
70th
A very balanced, and surprisingly restrained, look at the human consequences of war and the disillusionment suffered by pacifists such as Kaji, the main character. The film takes its time (it'd be hard for any 200 min. movie not to) and manages to tackle the desolation and corruption of a labor camp from all angles - it can drag early, but it all comes together to great effect towards the end and packs a powerful emotional punch. And you can always count on Kobayashi for great photography.
Rated 27 Mar 2011
80
86th
Defying huge potential for being a dry bore (on which Kobayashi would deliver in part III), the first third of his magnum opus is thoroughly entertaining and quite involving. The acting style is restrained, thankfully, and Nakadai does a good job as Kaji, in many an intense close-up of the tormented looks on his face when having to compromise his humanistic ideals. The photography is absolutely outstanding, many scenes unforgettable (train unloading, escape attempt, execution). Great.
Rated 22 Mar 2011
90
96th
This, the first act of the 9 hours long Japanese epic, is a nuanced, engaging and beautifully crafted tragedy, that masterfully deconstructs humanism and human nature, while allowing for the ambiguity of character traits to make it feel more real and less preachy. On top of that its also an interesting and soul-searching insight in Japanese history and culture.
Rated 24 Mar 2011
85
88th
Meet Kaji. Kaji is a pacifist humanist wanker, who jumps at the chance of serving as a manager in a prison camp, instead of going to the front lines. There his humanist convictions are constantly tested against the fascist Japanese rulership. With beautiful shots (loved the zombie horde) and a rather brisk pacing, Kobayashi proposes that freedom, humanism and justice are ideals that mankind can only hope to approximate, although the alternative makes it well worth the reach. A Good movie.
Rated 22 Mar 2011
90
96th
Impressive and beautifully crafted. As in Kobayashi's "Harakiri" we are faced with some tough moral and existential questions when the humanistic ideals of the pacifist Kaji are constantly put to the test during the dehumanising hardship of war. Despite some dull moments it packs a powerfull emotional punch, especially in this first act of the 9 hour epic.
Rated 24 Mar 2011
82
81st
Kobayashi feels completely at home with this material, letting the horrors of war far from the front line unfurl slowly but surely. Nakadai has his work cut out for him, playing something closer to a walking ideology than a human being, but he pulls it off. The film has a quiet majesty that is irresistible.
Rated 18 Aug 2021
75
89th
Oyunculukların ve bazı komik mantık hatalarının başyapıt olacak bir filmi yok ettiğini düşünüyorum. Tel örgülerden kaçan Çinliler için nöbetçi dikme fikrinin ortaya atılmamış olması ve Kaji'nin işçilerinin hiçbir koşulda onun iyi niyetini anlayamaması, anlamsız kaçışları. Bu tip hadiseler filme cidden yazık etmiş.
Rated 07 Feb 2007
90
94th
A truly great movie about war and humanism and futility. Excellent performances all over, and some majestic shots worthy of David Lean. My only complaint is that I got a bit confused about why certain people were doing certain things.
Rated 27 Nov 2008
70
84th
Somehow I was expecting a different movie. At first melodrama was way too much for me. But I got used to it and movie settled in pow camp for further development. Kobayashi is a true master on his own right, especially his camerawork and acting direction is outstanding. 200 minutes well spent, on my way to rest of the trilogy.
Rated 29 Jul 2009
90
86th
I have heard it said -- I think it was in _A Voyage to Italy_ -- that _Germany Year Zero_ was made as a prayer to the world. That is, a beseechment that not *all* Germans were monsters, and a testament that some people tried to stop what was happening. God only knows how something this wildly uncommercial ever managed to get made (the IMDb "Trivia" pages on this trilogy are pretty bare... {to be continued in reviewspace of _Human Condition II_}
Rated 14 Sep 2009
5
93rd
We are introduced to Kaji, a man of strong, sympathetic, but somewhat naive convictions. He is placed in that typical Kobayashi predicament of personal justice pitted against institutionalized corruption. There is a remarkable balance struck between individual tragedy and social indictment. Kobayashi always liked framing his characters in architecture, but throughout this trilogy he uses landscapes to astonishing effect.
Rated 02 Feb 2011
92
97th
Fantastic examination of humanism and the difficult choices one often has to make contrasting ideals with harsh reality. With the setting it would be really easy for such a film to be heavyhanded, but the material is handled very deftly and never seems contrived. This allows the weight of the actions and inaction to really have an effect. Superb performances and cinematography are just icing.
Rated 23 Mar 2011
80
70th
Fine film on how humanism has it's problems during wartime and surely an important film within it's Japanese cultural context. The characters are nuanced and the shots mostly beautiful.
Rated 15 Dec 2012
78
88th
There is precious little self-reckoning to be found in post-war Japan, and never have I seen a more straightforward cinematic indictment of their own imperialism than Kobayashi's (who was himself a conscientious objector). No Greater Love is on the uselessness of the humane protagonist's protests against the cruel system he is a part of. Still a bit naive despite its subversive intent, and not entirely realistic, but a nevertheless impressive and engaging 200 minutes.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
80
91st
My score is for all three parts combined, but based on distant memory and may be an underrating.
Rated 16 Nov 2008
87
93rd
More than a typical POW camp movie, as it's about a man on the outside. A lot of it, or perhaps most of it, is very depressing. It's all very well done, though.
Rated 30 Nov 2009
85
98th
A politically highly charged film with a great story, direction and performances.It is amazing how liberal the Japanese movies were back then in comparison to the western worlds where I dare say this film would have been heavily censored if not banned.
Rated 29 Dec 2009
76
77th
A bit melodramatic and taking its time, but it's a very powerful statement on the conflict between humanist ideals and wartime dehumanisation.
Rated 21 Oct 2010
40
97th
"It all sounds like a downer, and Human Condition is an indisputably solemn film. Yet it also possesses a restless vitality, with hard cuts juxtaposing abject brutality with pastoral tranquility and romantic longing." - Matthew Connolly
Rated 27 Jan 2011
89
96th
Giving the same score & review for each part, because it's really one long movie that only works if viewed together in sequence.
Rated 07 Nov 2011
78
95th
Great movie, but difficult subject matter, so be in the right mood for it.
Rated 04 Mar 2013
95
98th
Rating the trilogy as a whole - it really is greater than the sum of its parts, and pulls you in deeper and deeper as it moves along.
Rated 21 Jun 2013
89
97th
I was reminded very much of Paths of Glory, another favorite of mine. They both feature a protagonist who seems to be the only person who still cares about human rights, and yet he's not trusted by the people he's trying to help or his employers. Sort of a no-win scenario
Rated 13 Aug 2013
89
97th
88.500
Rated 11 Feb 2014
80
82nd
A bit overly melodramatic at times, yet balanced with some great cinematography in a very bleak landscape. Standout performances from Seiji Miyaguchi, Sô Yamamura, Chikage Awashima and Ineko Arima help to keep the viewer interested during this film's 200 minute length.
Rated 22 Oct 2015
80
90th
It's probably not for everybody. Even I sometimes struggle with war epics, but I wasn't ever truly bored during this part. There were some really great scenes, and the last 30 minutes or so was especially powerful. The direction is really good, as are the performances.
Rated 29 Jul 2017
5
19th
beginning was good, end was good, but the middle with all the "stealing flour" and whores stuff was tedious
Rated 28 Apr 2019
100
99th
Chorei feito uma criancinha - o devastador retrato de um humanista em meio a uma sociedade patriarcal militarizada bateu fortíssimo em mim. Box Obras-primas do Cinema Trilogia Guerra e Humanidade filme #1.
Rated 10 Dec 2020
96
99th
Masterpiece.
Rated 13 Aug 2021
80
68th
Nakadai's idealism is admirable, and his ideals are not misplaced, but his constant naivete over the course of this 3 1/2 hour film is more than a little frustrating. He has an obstinacy that continually sabotages his ability to achieve good results, and he doesn't really undergo any meaningful change in this film. That's understandable since rather than really having a character arc, he has the first small part of a larger one.
Rated 01 Nov 2022
81
57th
A very strong look at how hard it is to be a moral person in a time of war. Definitely drags at times but explores its concept and central location nicely. Looking forward to seeing more.
Rated 15 Apr 2023
82
95th
Aside from the pacing and length of the film, everything was immaculate if sometimes understated, while other times heavy-handed.
Rated 24 Nov 2023
80
78th
What to do when you're an idealist and the rest of the world isn't? Give in, or stick to your (figurative) guns? Here, we have a naive young man trying to treat captured war prisoners as humans. It's surprisingly engaging even when he's less than successful. Only a third of the way in, but I'm looking forward to the next installment.
Rated 26 Dec 2023
97
94th
Masterpiece. Textbook story telling and a great build-up as one would expect from Kobayashi. Very straightforward and engaging 200 mins. Powerful statement on the conflict between humanist ideals and wartime dehumanisation. It can be a bit too melodramatic at times, which is why I didn't give 100, but it has no other flaws.

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