The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (Ningen no jôken) (1959)

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This is an amazing beginning to Kobayashi's trilogy. It follows humanist Kaji's assignment to a Japanese ore mine staffed mostly with Chinese laborers. The story follows Kaji's trials and tribulations as he is put in charge of the "special laborers" (aka Chinese prisoners of war).

Despite the fact that it is only one part of a trilogy the emotions and human experience No Greater Lov... read more

(OK)Maybe the best of the 3, because mixes exploitation and war, its limits are Kpbayashi's manicheism (bad are too bad), just the good guys discuss and thinks, and repents (the heroe is very repentful, thats nice)...

First of a trilogy of films. During the Second World War, a Japanese conscientious objector named Kaji works as a supervisor in a Manchurian prison camp. He hopes to avoid duty as a soldier, but he also hopes to be helpful to the welfare of his prisoners. An escape attempt by Chinese prisoners results in Kaji's arrest for collusion. He faces the possibility of transferral to combat--or worse.