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Wings of Defeat
by Linda Hoaglund and Risa Morimoto
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"Wings of Defeat is a remarkably fascinating documentary, as well as a major contribution to our understanding of the history of World War II, from a heretofore untold point of view--that of the Kamikaze pilots whose training and contributions to the Japanese cause have long been shrouded in myth."
MORE ABOUT THE FILM
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In Japan, WWII Kamikaze are still revered as self-sacrificing heroes. Internationally, they remain a potent symbol of fanaticism. In astonishingly candid interviews, four former Kamikaze reveal that they were neither suicidal nor fanatical. In fact, they were young men sentenced to death by a military that could not admit defeat. In heartbreaking testimony corroborated with rare archival footage, they tell us about their dramatic survival and their survivors guilt. This riveting, seamlessly edited film is an emotionally charged and timely expose, probing the responsibilities that a government at war has to its people and its soldiers.
SPECIAL FEATURES Exclusive interview with Pulitzer-prize winning historian, Professor JOHN W. DOWER; trailer; animation storyboards; FREE TEACHER'S GUIDE written by SPICE (Stanford Program on Intl and Cross-cultural Education) with DVD purchase Appropriate for:
89 minutes • DVD • Closed
Captioned
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REVIEWS "Ever since the Pacific War, the Kamikaze have been presented as true believers "WINGS OF DEFEAT is an extraordinary film, revealing the terrible power of nationalist fervor as it seizes young minds, and makes them both victims and "Sixteen-year-old Anika Warner, a student at Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, Md., says she never thought the experiences of kamikaze pilots could suddenly feel so personal." "Wings Of Defeat is an exemplary scrutiny of the emotional and psychological manifestations of patriotism. And a candid and bold challenge to the whole notion of preconceptions and stereotypes." ""Tokko [Wings of Defeat]" has an American presentation, but it's that rare war documentary that transcends nationalism and politics. Unobtrusively, it places the kamikaze pilots in a global context, showing that they were not the fanatical demons popularly depicted in the U.S. media, but teenage boys who thought they were making a difference not so much for their country as for their families."
AWARDS / SCREENINGS
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