The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer Blu-ray Movie Review

A masterpiece of Japanese cinema comes to a close.

The Human Condition: Part 3 – A Soldier's Prayer is the epic conclusion to the ten-hour Japanese epic. The film is based upon the beloved novel by Jumpei Gomikawa. Under the lead production of Shigeru Wakatsuki (Pale Flower, Kwaidan), The Human Condition: Part 3 – A Soldier's Prayer is the swan song to the story. Tatsuya Nakadai and Michiyo Aratama return.

A Soldier's Prayer is the conclusion to The Human Condition trilogy. Kaji (Tatsuya Nakadai) once again finds his pacifist tests put to the test as he confronts the issues facing Japanese society. Kaji is eventually captured by Russians. Ill and unsure of his fate, Kaji is thrust in to the concluding arc of his story. Exploring humanity and Japanese society, The Human Condition: Part 3 is brought to a rousing close.

Tatsuya Nakadai delivers another exceptional performance as Kaji. The actor manages to round-out the trilogy with some of his best acting in the entire series. Nakadai was the perfect casting choice and he makes the film all the more engaging. Co-star Michiyo Aratama returns as Michiko and imbues her performance with a sense of depth as well.

Rounding out the trilogy, the cinematography by Yoshio Miyajima (Kwaidan, Hara-Kiri) delivers in spades. The visuals are at the heart of The Human Condition. The stylistic flourishes are compelling. The black-and-white cinematography is lush and organic: delivering a cinematic experience which draws viewers in to the world of the story with ease. The final installment is just as beautiful and compelling as the first.

The concluding act of The Human Condition.

Under the art direction of Kazue Hirataka (Sincerity, Black River), The Human Condition: Part 3 – A Soldier's Prayer excels with an epic production scale. The art direction brings the story to life with aplomb vitality. Everything from the sets to the costumes works wonders. A breathtaking vision.

The original music by Chuji Kinoshita (Somewhere Under the Broad Sky, The Garden of Women) remains one of the best components of the filmmaking. Kinoshita delivers some of the greatest compositions in the series with the final installment. The score helps tell the tale (and give it a compelling emotional depth).

Edited by Keiichi Uraoka (In the Realm of the Senses, Black Lizard), The Human Condition: Part 3 – A Soldier's Prayer is a masterful send-off to the series. The editing is tightly constructed and the pacing is superb. The effort pays off: The Human Condition: Part 3 – A Soldier's Prayer has no wasted film.

Masaki Kobayashi (Samurai Rebellion, Hara-Kiri) concludes the trilogy with a clear ambition for the humanist art. The scale of the final film is robust and the brilliance of the filmmaking can be felt throughout. Kobayashi wrote the script alongside co-screenwriters Zenzo Matsuyama (Long Journey Into Love) and Koichi Inagaki (The Inheritance) and rounded out the story perfectly – bringing it to a superb conclusion. Fans of the series won't want to miss the final installment.

The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from the Criterion Collection, The Human Condition: Part 3 is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1 widescreen. The presentation may look a little less robust than a 4K scan or restoration might have provided the film. However, the digital restoration looks reasonably impressive. Black and white levels are quite good throughout. The final entry perhaps looks the best of the three parts in The Human Condition. The presentation doesn't struggle with scratches, burn marks, and other picture-quality anomalies.

The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release is presented in Japanese uncompressed PCM 1.0 mono. The lossless audio is in 24 bit depth. The high-resolution audio track does an exceptional job of preserving the sound design. A worthwhile audio track that doesn't struggle with hiss, crackle, warps, pops, or clicks. A strong presentation of the source material. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand. English subtitles are provided.

The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Tatsuya Nakadai (SD, 17:42) is interviewed in this exclusive piece produced by the Criterion Collection. Actor Nakadai discusses his pivotal role in The Human Condition as Kaji.

The Human Condition: Part 3 Theatrical Trailer (SD, 2:57)

The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Human Condition: Part 3 – A Soldier's Prayer is a compelling production. The sense of scale is enormous. The direction by Masaki Kobayashi (Hara-Kiri) is brilliant and thought-provoking. The leading performance by Tatsuya Nakadai is at the heart of the filmmaking. The Criterion Collection presents the final act of the saga with a digital restoration and an assortment of extras which fans will want to check out. An epic conclusion to one of the most acclaimed Japanese film series ever made. Highly recommended.