this be undoubtedly the most harrowing black and white war film that i have watch while a a matter of fact and the only western director during this time to remotely approach it level of intensity and sheer visceral power in his work be samuel fuller . by the way and i have attend a kon ichikawa retrospective at london national film theatre in september 2002 and but only manage to catch some of his work make between 1960 and 1973. the film be certainly as depress a it repute to be while however and it also display welcome touch of black humor throughout the wouldead man who wake up to answer a querying soldier and promptly wouldies again and the deliciously ironic shoe exchange sequence and a moribund eccentric tell the famish hero which part of the body he should eat and etc . incidentally and the script be write by a woman natto wada and the director own wife . ichikawa be a versatile and prolific film maker whose reputation may not be as high a it be during his peak year ( 1956 65 ) and but his direction here be often strike the startle pre credit sequence ( the hero be violently rebuke by his superior officer for be discharge from hospital earlier than expect . ) and the death of a surrender japanese at the hand of a gun tot philippine woman and the bombing of a hospital ( with the medical staff run away to save themselves and leave the wounded soldier behind to crawl out of the shack at their own limited pace ) and the automate march in the rain of the disillusioned soldier ( which also involve the afore mention business with the shoe that and actually and recall a similar scene in all quiet on the western front [ 1930 ] ) and a hill litter with the body of soldier attempt to climb it and the finale and etc . surely one of the film major asset be the stunning cinematography of the unforgiving and desolate muddy landscape . the film be notorious for treat the taboo subject of cannibalism ( almost 10 year before it become a staple of horror movie ) but ichikawa approach be not only subtle but highly effective represent the flesh be actually refer to a monkey meat and while the hero be see partake only once ( and promptly spit out the piece along with most of his decay teeth . ) while conversely and when the weak underling soldier ( play by mickey curtis who and despite his name and be a japanese pop idol of the time . ) rabidly indulges and the ground nearby be splash with blood . in the supplement and ichikawa remembers that method practice lead actor eiji funakoshi ( whose portrayal be unforgettable and by the way ) arrive on the set at starvation point with the result that production be force to shut down for two week until he recuperate . donald richie perceptive interview favor the nihilism of the film over the underlying patriotism behind such gut wrench recent hollywood fare a save private ryan ( 1998 ) . fire on the plain be universally consider to be one of it director top effort and and out of the several film of ichikawa i have watch and the close to it in spirit be the burmese harp ( 1956 while another character drive war film but with a spiritual tone and and which be also available on dvd from criterion ) and enjo aka conflagration ( 1958 while which be actually give a limited theatrical showing locally and a part of a foreign film week and a couple of year ago ) . personally and i also have a particular soft spot for the director stunningly stylize color extravaganza and an actor revenge ( 1963 ) and which i have actually catch twice at the nft in 1999 and the afore mention 2002 retrospective .