An Imperial Japanese Army regiment surrenders to British forces in Burma at the close of World War II and finds harmony through song. A private, thought to be dead, disguises himself as a Buddhist monk and stumbles upon spiritual enlightenment. Magnificently shot in hushed black and white, Kon Ichikawa’s The Burmese Harp is an eloquent meditation on beauty coexisting with death and remains one of Japanese cinema’s most overwhelming antiwar sentiments, both tender and brutal in its grappling with Japan’s wartime legacy.

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Video Quality

The Criterion Collection presents The Burmese Harp on 4K UHD Blu-Ray courtesy of an exceptional 4K digital restoration from two 35mm master positives undertaken by the Nikkatsu Corporation and the Japan Foundation. The film is presented in 2160p SDR which looks terrific even without HDR implementation. The film is also making its domestic Blu-Ray debut with the included Blu-Ray disc derived from the same source, also available to purchase separately. It’s always nice to see a title go from DVD all the way to 4K UHD to make the leap seem even more stark. The Blu-Ray is in great shape, but the 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc renders everything with a bit more care. The black and white cinematography is gorgeous with gentle gradients and nuanced textures. The contrast holds tight and dials in crisp edges.

Black levels avoid crush and any serious shortcomings such as digital noise or compression artifacts. Highlights likewise avoid any unsightly blooming. This transfer maintains the filmic quality of the picture with the natural film grain bringing forth discrete details. This master offers a sterling amount of textural details in the costumes and the production design. Viewers will not observe major dust specks or print damage that can often be found within a film of this vintage. The frame showcases some valuable depth to the image as our protagonist adapts to his new life beyond the camp. The Blu-Ray disc has additional supplemental material it has to handle, but the 4K UHD disc allows the movie to thrive on its own. The Criterion Collection has given this classic a strong release worthy of its legacy.

Audio Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with a newly remastered LPCM 1.0 mono track in the original Japanese with optional English subtitles. Even with a film from this era, there do not seem to be any egregious instances of age-related wear and tear. This film is low-key even compared to the relative calm of Fires on the Plain, but there are still effective environmental sounds such as animal noises and the murmuring of crowds. The moments when the titular instrument is played is a pleasant sonic respite. Dialogue comes through clearly without being drowned out by competing elements. The music of the feature flows through with capable fidelity. Criterion has treated the soundscape with the proper care.

Special Features

The Criterion 4K UHD Blu-Ray of The Burmese Harp includes a pamphlet featuring the essay “Unknown Soldiers” by film critic Tony Rayns. This work explores the themes of the film, the history that is built into the narrative, the legacy of the film, and more which is very illuminating. The on-disc special features are as follows:

Kon Ichikawa: A 17-minute archival interview from 2005 featuring the director discussing his early interest in filmmaking, directors that inspired him, the decision to adapt the novel for The Burmese Harp, the experience of making the film, and more.

Rentaro Mikuni: A nearly 12-minute interview from 2006 in which the actor discusses working with Kon Ichikawa, his experiences during the production of The Burmese Harp, the thematic content of the film, memorable sequences, and more.
Trailer (3:41)

Final Thoughts

The Burmese Harp is a powerful look at war and its emotional fallout from the Japanese perspective. Director Kon Ichikawa would craft more distressing portraits in the future, but this particular examination feels somewhat more hopeful in its sobering account of lives lost. You have moments of brotherhood and community that put a human face on the stakes of the conflict. It is a tale that resonates just as powerfully today as when it was made. The Criterion Collection has delivered a new 4K UHD Blu-Ray that offers a strong A/V presentation and a couple of enlightening special features. If you are a fan of Japanese cinema, do not hesitate to add it to your collection. Highly Recommended

The Criterion Collection edition of The Burmese Harp is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD and Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: The Criterion Collection has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.