The Human Condition

The Human Condition

5 Episodes

Masaki Kobayashi’s mammoth humanist drama is one of the most staggering achievements of Japanese cinema. Originally filmed and released in three parts, the nine-and-a-half-hour THE HUMAN CONDITION (NINGEN NO JOKEN), adapted from Junpei Gomikawa’s six-volume novel, tells of the journey of the well-intentioned yet naive Kaji (handsome Japanese superstar Tatsuya Nakadai) from labor camp supervisor to Imperial Army soldier to Soviet POW. Constantly trying to rise above a corrupt system, Kaji time and again finds his morals an impediment rather than an advantage. A raw indictment of its nation’s wartime mentality as well as a personal existential tragedy, Kobayashi’s riveting, gorgeously filmed epic is novelistic cinema at its best.

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The Human Condition

5 Episodes

  • The Human Condition I
    3:26:42
    The Human Condition I
    Episode 1

    The Human Condition I

    Episode 1

    “No Greater Love”
    Directed by Masaki Kobayashi • 1959 • Japan

    Masaki Kobayashi’s mammoth humanist drama is one of the most staggering achievements of Japanese cinema. Originally filmed and released in three parts, the nine-and-a-half-hour THE HUMAN CONDITION (NINGEN NO JOKEN), adapted from Junpe...

  • The Human Condition II
    2:58:14
    The Human Condition II
    Episode 2

    The Human Condition II

    Episode 2

    “Road to Eternity”
    Directed by Masaki Kobayashi • 1959 • Japan

    Masaki Kobayashi’s mammoth humanist drama is one of the most staggering achievements of Japanese cinema. Originally filmed and released in three parts, the nine-and-a-half-hour THE HUMAN CONDITION (NINGEN NO JOKEN), adapted from Junp...

  • The Human Condition III
    3:10:33
    The Human Condition III
    Episode 3

    The Human Condition III

    Episode 3

    “A Soldier’s Prayer”
    Directed by Masaki Kobayashi • 1961 • Japan

    Masaki Kobayashi’s mammoth humanist drama is one of the most staggering achievements of Japanese cinema. Originally filmed and released in three parts, the nine-and-a-half-hour THE HUMAN CONDITION (NINGEN NO JOKEN), adapted from Ju...

  • Masahiro Shinoda on THE HUMAN CONDITION
    24:43
    Masahiro Shinoda on THE HUMAN CONDITION
    Episode 4

    Masahiro Shinoda on THE HUMAN CONDITION

    Episode 4

    In this video appreciation, created in 2009, we present filmmaker Masahiro Shinoda’s observations on THE HUMAN CONDITION and director Masaki Kobayashi.

  • Tatsuya Nakadai on THE HUMAN CONDITION
    17:43
    Tatsuya Nakadai on THE HUMAN CONDITION
    Episode 5

    Tatsuya Nakadai on THE HUMAN CONDITION

    Episode 5

    In this new video interview with Tatsuya Nakadai, conducted in 2009, the screen legend discusses his landmark role as Kaji in THE HUMAN CONDITION.

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