Sayonara

Joshua Logan's 1957 film "Sayonara" starring Red Buttons, Marlon Brando, James Gardner, Miyoshi Umeki, and Miiko Taka. I have to be honest, even though the film was a scathing indictment of the United States military bureacracy (not only in relation to bi-racial relationships but also the social effects of war) I wasn't overly moved. I was pleased with Lloyd's (Brando's) transformation but was disappointed to see Joe Kelly (Red Buttons) declare his life blessed - while his wife, Katsumi (Miyoshi Umeki) bathed him, fed him, and essentially serviced him. I was frowned upon the scene were Kelly throws Katsumi against the floor after his discovery of the epicanthic fold removal pamphlet in her pocket book. That being said, it was the most powerful scene in the entire film, aside from their double suicide. I know I am hard to please but even the kibuki performances seemed below par and even Miiko Taka's various skits were highly Westernized and uninspiring. I was happy to see that Logan made reference (even if not intentionally) to Chikamatsu's "Double Suicide at Amijima" which I read an embarrassingly long time ago for a literature class. The double suicide evidenced Kelly's transformation and acculturation, dying an honorable death for love. Whereas in the end, Miiko Taka's character embarked on a different route to happiness ~ rejecting traditional attitudes towards women (she comments in the end that Japanese women were forbidden to speak publicly) and emblemizing the New Woman of Japan.

I give this film a 2.5