Osa Archivum Catalog

Why We Fight: Know Your Enemy

Summary: Originally made in 1945 as part of the acclaimed Frank Capra series "Why we Fight!", "Know Your Enemy - Japan" was desgined to fully inform the American soldier of the characteristics of his foe, the Japanese soldier. The movie opens with a characteristic statement that aptly captures its propagandistic spirit. The director explains that the focus of the fillm are not Americans of Japanese descent, or those Japanese fighting in Europe on the side of the Allies, "who however close they resemble our enemies in appearance have proved their right to American citizenship on the battelfields", but the "Japs of Japan to whom the words liberty and freedom are still without meaning." Extensively using Japanese feature films, newsreels and filmfootage, Capra presents a sweeping history of the Japanese people and their culture, from Shintoism, to social structure, to emperial family and martial arts. In an explicit juxtaposition with the enlightened and progressive American audience, the Japanese come across as backward, militarist, and infinitely remote from the "liberal and democratic values." "Know Your Enemy" is perhaps, one of the most blatantly propagandistic film of the Capra series, its documentary value obfuscated by the political agenda it puts forward; yet it is definitely an interesting example of the genre.

Item Type	Current Location	Call Number	Status	Shelving Location	Public Note
DVD-ROM	OSA Film Library	FL Record 0611	Available	-	-
Digital film	OSA Film Library	FL Record 0611 (HU_OSA_00002343.mp4)	Available		Access Copy, MP4 format