Black Sun (1964)Directed by Koreyoshi KuraharaDoomsy’s Rating: 81/100One of the areas of histo

Black Sun (1964)

Directed by Koreyoshi Kurahara

Doomsy’s Rating: 81/100

One of the areas of history that is so underrepresented on screen was the relationship between the Japanese and the American GIs still stationed in Japan after the conclusion of WWII. Black Sun, The first film I’ve viewed by underground filmmaker Koreyoshi Kurahara, has a STARTLINGLY progressive agenda of tolerance given its time of release and the country it originates from. The story concerns Akira, a young squatter and anarchist who can’t stop getting into trouble with the law and a black GI named Gill, who wields a very large gun and is on the run from both his racist American commanding officers and the Japanese police. These two men team up to protect each other from their pursuers and develop something of an understanding despite the fact they cannot communicate. The film then becomes a wacky blend of off-color humor, revolutionary political posturing and ultimately tragedy. 

There is so much to admire here. One is the highly unorthodox, borderline guerilla cinematography, so emblematic of the punk-oriented style of independent filmmaking present in the Japanese New Wave. Much like Toshio Matsumoto’s Funeral Parade of Roses,Black Sun has aged so well because it’s not merely a “message” film, but a fascinating story of a friendship that transcends language and race. Gill is also no caricature. He is a complex man and his background is largely left to the imagination, but it is very clear that he is all alone. Not just linguistically, but also because the empathy of others in this world seems totally foreign. The fact that a film makes this much effort to give a POC so much character development (and four years before Night of the Living Dead) alone makes this essential viewing for its oddity status, but the fantastic jazz score is highly worthy of praise. 

Watched on Criterion Channel.