Sayonara

Sayonara was one of my favorite films in class. Through research online I found that it came out in the late 1950's.  It stars Marlon Brando and Patricia Owens.

Brando plays  Lloyd Gruver, a U.S army major who is brought to Japan for work, but it is his soon-to-be father-in-law, and U.S Army General, who brought him to Japan to see his fiancé and finally get married.  Lloyd however, is hesitant, and not truly head-over-heals in love. When his military buddy Joe Kelly expresses his deep love for Katsumi, a Japanese woman he is intent on marrying, Gruver calls off his wedding. Lloyd finds himself falling in love with a Japanese actress Hana-Ogi, and has Kelly and Katsumi arrange meetings for them.

During this time, The military is seriously frowning on American/Japanese marriage and will not recognize them. As many military men are falling in love, the U.S Army has them stationed and pulled out of Japan away from their loved ones. After seeing a play together where lovers kill themselves. Kelly and Katsumi, who are soon to have a baby, decide to commit suicide rather than be taken apart.  This however only reinsures Gruver's love for Hana-Ogi, forcing him to search all over Japan for her after she leaves with the play/acting company.

 

Inspite of being a movie that breaks through interracial relationships, this movies depicts a lot of stereotypes, showing a Japanese star in Hana-Ogi completely subservient to Gruver throughout most of the film, in addition to many others.