A Classic Japanese Movie of World War II, ‘The Burmese Harp’ Sustains Its Notes of Camaraderie and Compassion
Two elements distinguish this movie from other war films: the prominent use of music and its striking photography. A new 4K digitally restored version arrives Friday at the Film Forum.

The 1956 Japanese film “The Burmese Harp” tells the story of a Japanese infantry unit in Burma (now Myanmar) at the tail end of World War II, and in its meticulous storytelling it achieves a form of grace in harmony with its balancing of themes of brotherhood, individuality, sacrifice, and understanding.
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