Asian Cinema Challenge 2025 - Week 29 - Directed by Keisuke Kinoshita

Some films convey the aura of a masterpiece within just a few minutes, and Kinoshita's "A Legend or Was It?" is one of them, with its stunning cinematography and a captivating score. The film opens with a vibrant color sequence depicting idyllic life in a picturesque village, while a voice-over reveals a glimpse of the grim events that transpired there a decade earlier—events so horrific that the locals prefer to refer to them as mere legend. Following this sequence, the film cuts to black before transitioning to a black-and-white display of those unsettling events, accompanied by a haunting mouth-harp score that contrasts with Western orchestral instruments.

During the summer of 45', a family evacuated from Tokyo after the bombing awaits the return of their long-absent soldier son, Hideyuki, released from the service due to illness. Upon his arrival, he learns that his sister, Kieko, has been proposed to by Goichi, the son of the village mayor. Hideyuki persuades Kieko to decline the marriage proposal after identifying Goichi as one of the soldiers from his regiment who committed atrocities in China. Goichi doesn't take the rejection well, beginning to spread malicious rumors about Kieko's family.

"A Legend or Was It?" criticizes the corruption of the Imperial era, highlighting how its militaristic mindset allowed violence to infiltrate all aspects of society, requiring only a small spark to unleash their inner devils. With the impending defeat of the Japanese army, it doesn't take long for the locals to turn against outsiders. Kinoshita crafts a powerful narrative about a malicious town in which all hell breaks loose against a small group of individuals who strive to uphold integrity. The film's tightly woven 82-minute plot delivers a tense anti-war Westerns-inspired thriller, portraying a last stand for decency and moral values. Besides cinematography and editing, credit is due to the exceptional cast, from the charming and sincere Shima Iwashita and Mariko Kaga to the prideful and depraved Bunta Sugawara. Kinoshita's remarkable use of weather deserves special mention.

Interestingly, the English title of the film is more layered than its genre-exploitative Japanese counterpart, "Legend of the Deadly Battle." It hints at Japan's future, questioning whether its people are ready to confront their past mistakes and learn from them or risk returning to their former faults.