Okinawa:
The Afterburn (2015/First Run Features DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: B- Extras: B Documentary: B+
For
over a century, Okinawa has been a beachhead for American military
bases. Since Matthew C. Perry forced opening of Japanese ports to
American trade in 1852, Americans have used Okinawa as a staging
ground for it's military forces, forcing Okinawan civilians to be
ruled under American policy until it's return to Japanese
administration in 1972 via post WWII terms. Throughout the century,
Okinawa had to endure 2 World Wars and the Vietnam War, occupation in
their own country by Americans, but the story isn't about how these
countries came or even why they came ...but what they did in, as
shown in John Junkerman's Okinawa: The Afterburn (2015).
Okinawa
takes a look in to postwar history of how U.S. military bases and
soldiers have effected it's people. Through the eyes and testaments
of the civilians, veterans and soldiers there are two sides of the
story and both sides painted a very different story. All the
Americans said the same thing, that they were just following orders
and came to Okinawa to protect American freedom and democracy, the
military bases were justified and benefited Okinawa economically too,
but the Okinawans have a different point of view, not only were they
robbed of self identity, culture and self rule. They've had to
endure American military occupation as well as related rapes, crimes,
accidents and pollution they have caused and while they promise of
change and of a better life, that so far has been an empty promise.
Over
1,000 military bases world wide the American government has set up
bases for faster military response throughout the world, but at what
cost and why? While some have praise such action, they have not
always been welcomed or seen in a positive light. How is it any
different from any other occupation by tyrants and dictators of
histories past? To protect freedom and democracy they first take it
away from it native people and others? American freedom and
democracy loses it's charm when it is forced and at the end of barrel
of a gun, though WWIi and Japanese Militarism as part of the Axis
Powers caused this situation to begin with.
This
very long, anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 presentation is a little
softer than one would like, but some materials are rough in the
defense of the makers, but the lossy Dolby Digital sound fares better
despite some rough spots. Extras include Facing the Flamethrower,
early postwar life, a piece on photographer Ishikawa Mao and
Occupation Mentality.
-
Ricky Chiang
