Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle
dir. Arthur Harari · 2021
The struggle to find purpose in life can lead to a relentless commitment to a mission, even in the face of overwhelming odds and changing circumstances.
Hiroo Onoda, a young Japanese soldier, is sent to the Philippines during World War II with orders to wage guerrilla warfare until his country’s forces return. As the years stretch into a decade, he clings to his mission, even as the world around him changes irrevocably. Watching this film is like stepping into a dense jungle of thought, where the weight of time and the burden of loyalty create a haunting atmosphere that lingers long after the credits roll.
Japan, 1944. Trained for intelligence work, Hiroo Onoda, 22 years old, discovers a philosophy contrary to the official line: no suicide; stay alive whatever happens; the mission is more important than anything else. Sent to Lubang, a small island in the Philippines where the Americans are about to land, this role will be to wage a guerrilla war until the return of the Japanese troops. The Empire will surrender soon after; Onoda, 10,000 days later.
Talking points
- the nature of loyalty and duty
- the psychological effects of prolonged isolation
- the absurdity of war
- the impact of historical narratives on personal identity
