Film Lens
Japanese Devils is a documentary directed by Minoru Matsui that focuses on the war crimes committed by the Imperial Japanese Army from 1931 to 1945. The film features interviews with 14 Japanese veterans of the Second Sino-Japanese War, who recount their experiences involving serious atrocities such as rape, massacres, bio-experiments, and cannibalism. The interviews are controversial, as their accuracy is questioned by Japanese nationalist critics, raising issues about the reliability of the testimonies provided by these former soldiers.
Matsui was inspired to create this documentary after the death of one of his interviewees, feeling it was crucial to document these stories. Initial production faced challenges, with minimal support from production companies. The film gained recognition after being entered into the Berlin Film Festival. The original title, Riben Guizi, reflects a historical sentiment of hatred towards Japanese invaders during the 1930s and 1940s.
Why Watch
- •Meet 14 veterans recounting war crimes in detail.
- •Find out about the impact of the Berlin Film Festival.
- •See the controversial perspectives on historical events.
Did You Know
•The documentary features interviews with 14 Japanese veterans.
•Minoru Matsui began the documentary after one interviewee died.
•The film was initially rejected by all production companies.
•The original title, Riben Guizi, was popular in the 1930s and 1940s.
Perfect For
War crime historyJapanese military historyDocumentary enthusiasts