The Human Condition Part 3: A Soldier's Prayer

The concluding film in Masaki Kobayashi's trio of works known as The Human Condition, "The Human Condition Part 3: A Soldier's Prayer" is a captivating journey of existential enlightenment that pulls viewers toward a heart-rending culmination. The film was released in 1961 and is the magnum opus of Masaki Kobayashi’s multifaceted career. Starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Michiyo Aratama, and Tamao Nakamura, its three-part epic totality is considered one of the grandest achievements in Japanese cinema.

A Soldier's Prayer takes the audience back to the historical tableau of the Second World War. Tatsuya Nakadai, one of Japan's most acclaimed actors, is at the core of the movie, reprising his role as Kaji, demonstrating an exceptional range of emotion and physicality. Michiyo Aratama is also a returnee in her role as Michiko, Kaji’s faithful wife who brilliantly portrays the struggle and indomitable spirit of women during the war. Tamao Nakamura lends support as a fellow refugee, presenting a striking performance.

Carrying forward the story from the first two films in the series, this movie sees Kaji faced with the ravages of war and the transformations it has brazenly imposed on his ideologies and values. Stranded in Manchuria after Japan's surrender, Kaji is presented as both a valiant and vulnerable figure, hardened by the brutality of war yet so innately human. He yearns for his home and his wife Michiko as he wanders through the bleak and hostile landscapes of a war-torn nation. The impact of war on the human soul forms the crux of this third film, reflecting on the internal corrosion of the human spirit within the tumultuous time.

Director Masaki Kobayashi leaves no stone unturned in showcasing the gritty realities of war and its profound psychological impact with a gauntlet of emotionally charged sequences. His stark direction style lays bare the perversion of human values, the bigotry, the prejudices, and the loss inherent in war. Ayuzawa Kazuo's cinematography complements Kobayashi's vision perfectly, providing the movie its bleak yet poignant tranquillity, and Nakai Yoshio's contemplative score serves to augment the film's sustained sense of dread and suspense.

One of the important aspects of the film is its nuanced portrayal of moral character and judgement in the face of desolation. Moving away from the manichaean vision of good and evil often depicted in war stories, Kobayashi presents a complex narrative of man's struggle between morality and survival instincts under extreme conditions. His direction invites viewers to engage with the complexity of the human condition in a way few films do, unmasking various faces of humans - victim and oppressor, sinner and saint, hero and villain - all wrapped into one.

Each scene in the film is well-crafted and seeps with nuances, making audiences think critically about the societal consequences of armed conflict. The story plunges viewers into the depths of existential despair and also into the heights of human compassion, effectively highlighting the complexity of the human condition. Each character is not merely a puppet in the hands of fate but an active participant, their actions intricately woven into the narrative, providing a comprehensive look at the tumultuous time.

The genius of The Human Condition Part 3: A Soldier's Prayer lies in its ability to depict the struggle faced by ordinary individuals amidst horrors, thereby going beyond the conventional narratives of heroism and villainy. It is a reflection on man's constant fight against the adversities of the external world and his own personal demons.

In retrospect, each actor plays a significant role in the film, adding depth and intricacy to the narrative. Their performances, filled with a raw authenticity, make the audience grimace, smile, and despair, thereby truly immersing them in the realities of war. Nakadai, as the central character of Kaji, is mesmerizing as he effectively portrays the torment of a war-weary soldier.

Packaged within its heart-wrenching three-hour plus narrative, A Soldier's Prayer delivers an impactful, thought-provoking, and, at times, devastating examination of war and its grave cost on humanity. It is a classic piece of cinema filled with impactful performances, deft filmmaking, and a narrative that continues to captivate viewers even after several decades since its initial release. It is a cinematic journey in understanding the depths of the human soul, showcasing the resilience, triumphs and tragedies of the human spirit grappling with the grim realities of war. As such, A Soldier's Prayer is a movie that is as timeless as it is powerful.