Spoilers · the ending
The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On: the ending, explained
Kazuo Hara · 1987
This page gives the ending away. Not seen the film yet? Its spoiler-free guide is here.
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Spoilers · the ending
Kazuo Hara · 1987
This page gives the ending away. Not seen the film yet? Its spoiler-free guide is here.
What happens
Okuzaki traces the killing of the two soldiers up the chain of command to an officer's family. You learn they were executed after the war ended, amid famine and cannibalism, and the survivors still shield whoever gave the order.
The last image
A caption tells you Okuzaki was later imprisoned after a shooting, so the film ends on his violence, not on any answer.
Two readings
What it says
The ending refuses a neat verdict because the film is about silence and obedience, and about whether righteous anger can justify force. The camera that kept rolling leaves you to weigh it yourself.