EMPEROR covers a little-known episode in post-WWII history: The question of whether or not America should prosecute Emperor Hirohito for war crimes and the--you guessed it!--big political agenda behind this question. The way that many Japanese reacted to the American occupation is also something we don't hear much about, but it makes perfect sense. This film does, however, need something more and/or something else. Though it takes up about half the story-time here, all the stuff about General Fellers's tragic would-be romance with Japanese teacher Aya Shimada has only a loose tie-in with the premise of the film. The lush scenes of the Japanese countryside contrast very well with the devastation in the cities. The acting-in-general is competent but nothing great.
Review of Emperor
