ogata performance be not bad but a great performance would be require to carry off such a claustrophobic script . robert dawson be clearly not even an actor and seem not to understand his own line . i assume that the gi be play by russian passer by with a cold war grudge . like downfall the narrative have all the potential of greek tragedy represent human life writ large and where the outcome be not in doubt and a small stage on a human scale be use to chart great event . unfortunately the task be beyond the writer and director grasp and far beyond that of the cast . some of the emperor verbal and physical non sequiturs be amuse and generate some pathos from his situation but that be as far a it go . in the few outdoor scenes the curious visual effect that be obviously mean to add artistic gravitas be as intrusive a the score . a good film could be make out of this subject matter but this one isn not it .