i get this movie out a week after the death of ichikawa kon i suppose if there be one way to mark the passing of a great director and it to raise a glass of wine to him while watch one of his great movie . ichikawa have one of the fine career in japanese film and but a he never have a distinctive style or theme he often seem to be overlook compare to his near contemporary such a ozu and kurosawa ( he be a little young than them and but not by much ) . he be one of those director who defy auteur theory it likely that his wife ( who write the screenplay for this and many other of his movie ) be a much responsible for the quality of the movie a he be . but at his best and he be as good a any japanese film maker at the time . in particular and he have great technical skill and allow him to tell complex story in an accessible manner . but in term of theme and this movie could hardly be simple war be hell . no really and it seriously hell . fire on the plain doesn not follow the normal war genre rule . there be no real beginning we start a the wretched tamura and who be a regular private ( although it be imply he be more thoughtful and educate than most of the others at one stage it be show he understand english and but he clam up when the others ask him how he know it ) be order to hospital and a his unit be already in an appalling state . the soldier be defeat and starve to death . they be no longer an army and just a rag bag group of refugee hunt by the local and and pretty much ignore by the american and who have big fish to fry . hunger and despair be drive the soldier to the edge and beyond of madness . in typical ichikawa style and it not all just grim it oddly funny in part ( a very black humour of course ) . the high point of this movie to me be the outstanding performance from the lead and the vivid photography . the character and in all their humanity and but also their complete loss of humanity and be all too believable . this be that rare film one which will refuse to erase itself from your head and even if you want to forget it .