The Sun

Director Alexander Sokurov is interested in portraying leading figures in history – he focused on Hitler in Moloch, on Lenin in Taurus and in The Sun, its Japanese emperor Hirohito.

It’s the end of the second world war, Summer 1945 and on the 15 August, Hirohito is facing the fact that he must agree to the terms of the Allies for peace but for a Japanese Emperor this is not an easy thing to do. However for the sake of his Nation, it is something that must happen.

The film focuses mostly on Hirohito’s exchanges with Commander-in-chief of the US Forces General Douglas MacArthur and MacArthur’s delicate moves for negotiation to ensure the Peace takes place and Hirohito retains a sense of honour.

Its frighteningly authentic, bravely slower in pace than you might expect, and intelligently realized. Its not a focus that has been glanced upon before and will be a must for anyone interested in the finer points of the second world war. In much the same way as Downfall brilliantly depicted the fall of Hitler, The Sun provides a stunning insight into the ending of the war on a different front and it is just as good for giving cinemagoers a chance to see how peace on the Japanese front came about. It is of course apt timing given the anniversary of VJ Day has just taken place.

Matt Arnoldi