Blogs

  July 9, 2008 - 9:07pm

On July 6, 2008 Yasuko and I attended the North America premiere of Koji Wakamatsu's film "United Red Army" at Japan Society. I believe that it is one of the most important films to be made in recent years, and I hope that it will find its way to additional screenings and a DVD release so that you will all have an opportunity to see it. With shocking realism this film re-creates the story of the rise and fall of the United Red Army, established 1971, one of the may radical left-wing Japanese student groups that protested the Japanese government's support for America's war in Vietnam. Director Wakamatsu knew many members of the UAR personally and states that 90% of the film is true and the remaining 10% is imagined based on the known facts.

What we witness is a group of many of Japan's brightest university students showing incredible bravery and commitment to try to make the world a better place. We also see clearly that such iron determination without wisdom to guide it leads to tragedy.