

A re-imagination of Japanese Emperor Hirohito’s final days in power as WWII draws to a close.
Acting
Issey Ogata's body language — a man learning to occupy his own skin.
Cinematography
Sokurov's floating camera turns rooms into liminal psychological spaces.
Direction
The famous 10-minute unbroken surrender scene — pure cinematic nerve.

Director
Aleksandr Sokurov
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Sokurov's 'Men of Power' trilogy — Hitler in Moloch, Lenin in Taurus, Hirohito here — treats dictators as caged animals, not monsters.
The real Hirohito never spoke of the war again after his surrender broadcast; Sokurov imagines what that afternoon cost him.