Anatahan (1953)

 Josef von Sternberg's "Anatahan"


Even though his 1957 film "Jet Pilot" was released after, "Anatahan" was the last film made by legendary director Josef von Sternberg. Sternberg made the film outside the studio stystem which allowed him the freedom to have more control over the picutre. Sternberg wrote, directed, photographed, and even narrated this all-Japanese cast film. The film had its premier at the 14th annual Venice Film Festival. 

The story consists of twelve Japanese soldiers who get stranded on the island of Anatahan in 1944. The survive on the island for seven years and spend that time fighting over the island's sole woman, Keiko. Sternberg's apparent attempt is to strip down the characters to their bare humanity, so that they may shed their concepts of rank in the miliatary and monogamous marriage. The most striking scene comes at the very end, when Keiko witnesses all her fellow strandees excitedly exiting the rescue plane to see their families. Sternberg shoots each one in a medium while they come directly toward the camera smiling. Their image is then replaced with the image of them while they were on the island, aggresive and menacing. With this, our perspective on the story becomes complete, as we see twelve men presented to world, and the inner darkness of who they really are and what they are capable of shining through the facade. The film can meander, however, it is still a noteworthy piece of film that displays the intimacy of humanity's collective celebration and desire. 



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