Castenell, Dee- Harp of Burma

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 The anime film Harp of Burma focused on some great points that really interested me. First of all, my major, music therapy, demonstrates the many ways in which music can affect individuals. The playing of the harp for the distressed soldiers was therapeutic. Also fortunately music is the only universal language so it was able to sooth the combat ready troops from India and England (when they were surrounded at the hut). Through music, their lives were all spared and bloodshed was put to a rest. Also the hopes for a positive future were able to persist in each soldier as the going got tough.
 

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 I enjoyed the fact that this story was able to portray so many themes to all ages considering its viewer friendly. It shows war but a completely non-violent seeming side of war. There were no bloodshed scenes and instead it focused mainly on music and the perspectives of soldiers on all sides. Due to some scenes, its evident that no one wanted to go into war and have to shed blood or lose comrades. Unfortunately, the overwhelming pride and sense of honor that many Japanese have led to the deaths of a large squadron. To the Japanese, retreat taints your honor to a point where they would commit seppuku (a ritual suicide). The movie followed a squadron in search of their musical harpist while under the detainment of enemy troops. The harpist, Mizushima, was separated after attempting to calm down the squadron of Japanese held up near some mountains.  He was injured during the whole conflict and woke up under the aid of a Burmese monk. From then on he went into hiding, scared to go back. He came across the remains of the battle that had taken place and saw a vast sea of fallen soldiers bodies decaying. His Japanese duty and emotions flood him and he is left to decide what to do. Mizushima defaults on staying behind to respectfully bury all of the dead even though he has the perfect chance to go back with his beloved squadron. His belief of fate and overwhelming sense of duty succeed in keeping him at bay while his squadron embarque on a journey to the unknown.
   Anyways, this film was incredibly in the sense that it showed sacrifice, peace through music, and various instances of Japanese-exclusive culture at play in everyday life (sounds silly but for us Americans it is quite different.) Overall I very much enjoyed this film and look forward to part 2. I highly recommend it to anyone, young or old.