Onoda: The man who hid in the jungle for 30 years
A new film tells the strange story of Japan's controversial WW2 hero. Its themes of nationalism and fake news still resonate, writes James Balmont.
Hasnain says:
People are complex, interesting, and fascinating. And so is history.
“But the trailer for Stewart's film highlights the significant truth that is perhaps understated in other accounts of this story. The war didn't end in 1945 for Onoda; but it didn't end there for the Filipinos on Lubang, either. And the voice of the Filipino people needs to be heard, "so as to counter the image of Onoda as a hero, and to bring attention and justice for the victims and their families," she says.
Stewart encourages every person who comes across Harari's film or Herzog's book to seek out her documentary. And perhaps, with a story as complex, compelling and controversial as Onoda's, this simple conclusion is also the most logical. There are several sides to every story – the truth, however bizarre, or fantastic, or terrible we decide it to be, requires a consideration of all of them.”
Posted on 2022-04-20T07:35:47+0000