The Human Condition (1959) : distribution, intrigue et streaming
1959 · Film

Released in 1959, The Human Condition is a notable film.
What it’s about. This mammoth humanist drama by Masaki Kobayashi is one of the most staggering achievements of Japanese cinema. Originally filmed and released in three installments of two parts each, the nine-and-a-half-hour The Human Condition, adapted from Junpei Gomikawa’s six-volume novel, tells of the journey of the well-intentioned yet naive Kaji—played by the Japanese superstar Tatsuya Nakadai—from labor camp supervisor to Imperial Army soldier to Soviet prisoner of war. Constantly trying to rise above a corrupt system, Kaji time and again finds his morals to be an impediment rather than an advantage. A raw indictment of Japan’s wartime mentality as well as a personal existential tragedy, Kobayashi’s riveting, gorgeously filmed epic is novelistic cinema at its best.
Who’s in it. The Human Condition stars Tatsuya Nakadai as Kaji, Yūsuke Kawazu as Terada Nitôhei, Ineko Arima as Shunran Yô and Sō Yamamura as Okishima, among others.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Human Condition page.
Questions fréquentes
- Where can I watch The Human Condition (1959)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Human Condition change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Who stars in The Human Condition?
- The Human Condition stars Tatsuya Nakadai, Yūsuke Kawazu, Ineko Arima, Sō Yamamura and Michirō Minami.
- When was The Human Condition released?
- The Human Condition was released in 1959.