Film & TV

DVD Review: Emperor

 

Emp-02558.cr2After the Japanese surrender at the end of World War 2, Brigadier General Fellers (Matthew Fox) is given an important task: He is requested by General Douglas MacArthur (Tommy Lee Jones) to investigate Emperor Hirohito’s role in the conflict. While deciding if Japan’s leader should be tried for war crimes, Fellers also searches for a former girlfriend. She vanished during the bombing on Japan and her presence haunts him as he deals with a monumental decision.

Emperor is an interesting movie about outsiders. Having felt like one due to his relationship with a Japanese woman, Fellers’ military position further alienates him from the populace, hampering his ability to uncover information. The locals he encounters feel like outcasts due to the American presence and forced to shoulder the blame for their perceived actions. These elements are reasonably well handled by director Peter Webber who injects genuine humanity to proceedings.

The immediate aftermath of such a terrible war isn’t often portrayed in film and Emperor provides interest. The sub-plot featuring Fellers’ search for his lost love is less engaging, although it aids in the overall understanding of attitudes at the time. The plot flits back and forth in its timeline without warning, bringing an often disjointed narrative. This proves distracting with real events more compelling than the fictional one they are wrapped in. The performances are solid however and have much depth.

A slice of history worth investigating, Emperor is an enlightening look at pragmatism and moving on from a harsh past.

Reviewed by Patrick Moore

Rating out of 10: 6

Out on Blu-ray and DVD 21 August 2013

 

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