User reviews

The fabulous films of maverick director Yasuzo Masumura are highly creative works laced with multi themes. Opening this excellent drama a stream of newspaper headlines featuring detail of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the relentless advance of Japanese imperialist policy marches on. The film setting takes place on the eve of yet another broader conflict the Pacific War. At this turbulent time underdeveloped was Japan's military intelligence. A small group of soldiers have been singled out from the ranks, elite soldiers they are both physically and mentally superior the essential attributes for the testing task ahead. The rigorous training comes at a great personal cost, it is a huge sacrifice to leave former lives and families who must be completely left to the distant past. Devoting themselves body and soul, the close knit group endure a year of training in the art of espionage at the Nakano Spy School. An outstanding cast feature giving great depth of character, the foundation of this absorbing psychological drama, a wonderfully entertaining, thought provoking cinematic story,. archetypal of the master filmmaker Yasuzo Masumura:... Highly Recommended !!