Yesterday watched Japanese Devils, a documentary that interviewed 14 japanese army veterans who confessed to the atrocities they committed during WWII. The events they talked about was put in chronological order, treatment was quite matter-of-factly. It was chilling sitting there and listening to a bunch of old men describing in vivid details what they had done. Personally, it was difficult to be totally non-judgemental after hearing from them. Everyone had a reason on why they did what they did. Under orders, to fit in, peer pressure and personal beliefs that the emperor is god. As they were talking, it was quite apparent to me that there was always this moment in time when they hesitated (no matter how shortly) before crossing the line from being a human to something so cruel yet only a human is capable of. Each time, when the interview reached this moment, i held my breath wishing that perhaps this old man had not crossed the line, perhaps he turned an eye over the old people, the children, the woman he just raped instead of killing them and burning them down. But then, this is war and it is real. This is not a movie. It is not easy to view it objectively and say that these 14 interviewees are victims of war as well. Not when everyone had a chance to look the other way when their superiors or peers are not around and yet did not, and committed all manner of cruelty you can think of.

I don't think the documentary is to make to make victims out of them. It was a good documentary that look at the facts objectively instead of denying it, especially since it was made by the japanese. I guess it is only my own fault that i cannot get beyond my own subjective and personal feelings about it.