Behind the Rising Sun is a 1943 American drama film directed by Edward Dmytryk and produced by Edward A. Golden for RKO Radio Pictures. The screenplay was written by Emmet Lavery, based on a 1941 book of the same name by James R. Young, an American correspondent who had been imprisoned in Japan.
Plot Summary: The film chronicles the experiences of a Japanese family, the Shimuras, from the mid-1930s up to the attack on Pearl Harbor and Japan's entry into World War II. The central figures are Tama Shimura (played by Margo), a young woman educated in the United States, and her brother, Taro (played by Tom Neal), also educated in America. They return to Japan with ideals of democracy and freedom, only to find their home country increasingly gripped by militarism and expansionist ideologies. Their father, Masao Shimura (played by J. Carrol Naish), is a prominent Japanese businessman who initially supports the government but later becomes disillusioned with its extreme actions. The narrative portrays the family's struggle to reconcile their personal beliefs with the nationalistic fervor and oppressive policies of the Japanese government, ultimately leading to tragic consequences for them and their loved ones, including an American friend, Gary (played by Robert Ryan).
Themes and Significance: Released during World War II, Behind the Rising Sun was one of many Hollywood films made to inform and influence American public opinion regarding the war and its adversaries. Unlike some more overtly propagandistic films of the era that presented a uniformly negative portrayal of the enemy, Behind the Rising Sun attempted to draw a distinction between the militaristic Japanese government and its ordinary citizens. It explored themes of nationalism, personal freedom versus state control, and the internal conflicts faced by individuals caught between differing ideologies. While its historical accuracy and sympathetic portrayal of certain Japanese characters were subjects of debate, it provided an early and relatively nuanced look at the complexities within Japanese society during wartime from an American perspective. The film is considered a significant example of wartime cinema, reflecting the cultural and political climate of its time.