Fires on the Plain  — 4K 09/30/25

It’s a chronicle of defeat and doom, hopelessness and horror … yet director Kon Ichikawa turns it into an engrossing experience. Footsoldier Tamura is one of thousands of Japanese troops left behind after military defeats; surrender risks execution by partisan Philipinos, and the alternative is slow starvation in the hills. Desperation and madness take their toll, yet the show says a lot about the human spirit — we’re impressed, even if we’re not uplifted. The new restoration looks sensational in B&W Daieiscope by Eastman — it’s one of the most attractive B&W Japanese films we’ve seen. The extras include special input from the director. On 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray from The Criterion Collection.
09/16/25