Enemy Within

source: Enemy Within

Totally fictionalized account of the Ni'ihau Incident. As a World War II historian I've been hoping for years that someone would produce a film about the incident that was the main impetus for incarcerating Japanese Americans living on the West Coast in concentration camps (those living in Hawai'i were not incarcerated, except for a handful who were known to be enemy sympathizers). I didn't even know about this movie until more than three years after it was made; probably because it's garbage and no one wanted to advertise it. I'm not going to take the time to create spoilers and point out everything wrong about this production, but suffice it to say that it's just wrong.

First, the Niihau Incident is a great dramatic story from WWII, so why mess with it and change things. I'd give the director a pass on the plane crashing into the ocean instead of a field, because I'm sure that dropped the budget a lot (easier to fake in a pool). But, the other changes are rather insulting, primarily because they aren't better or more dramatic than the truth. I guess they wanted make up the actions and motivations of the Japanese so it might balance out some sort of morality tale. Weird. Second, while the performances and productions weren't bad per se, it came across more as TV quality, rather than cinematic. Some of the dialogue was clunky, simplistic and didn't work. Meh.

There are many interesting things to this film, and the most interesting one is the psychology of the cultural clash between friendly islanders and a stranded Japanese pilot shot down on the island after Pearl Harbour. There are some other Japanese on the island also, and when they learn the truth about the pilot they try to keep it down to avoid risks to the island community. They fail to keep it down, the truth comes out, and there is havoc, as too many quite unnecessarily panic, including the poor Japanese pilot, who runs amuck. The one man who tries to keep everything in sensible control is almost a casualty himself. The film is beautifully photographed, it's a pleasure to share the very basic and primitive life on this secluded island, the actors are all quite convincing especially when they lose control, and the story is fascinating although deeply tragic - all casualties are unnecessary. The war should never have come to this island, no one wanted it there, no one was responsible for bringing it there, and the poor Japanese pilot who brought it there suffered most for it. It is a good film although you would hardly look forward to watching it again.

Spoilers... Theoretically taking place in December of 1941, one of the japanese bomber pilot crash lands near one of the hawai'ian islands. the islanders save him, before they know who he is or the role he has played. much discussion over what to do; they are worried that the Japanese military may be coming to rescue the pilot. also arguments over his military papers that may or may not exist, who may have them, and what they could contain. one big weakness -- the clothing, the speech and mannerisms are all very modern and americanized, so you have to buy into that. no effort seems to have been made to the fact that this took place in 1941. and the residents speak very modern english, and keep throwing in hawai'ian nouns, almost to convince us they really are islanders. Shown on roku streaming channel. Written and directed by scottish Gabriel Robertson, which explains why this seems to be a UK production. a whole bucket of violence near the end. and the credits indicate that this is based on a real event, supposedly describing what happened to the various characters in the story. some went to jail. some were sent to interment camps, as was the custom after WW II broke out. others were recognized for their bravery during the events. it's pretty good, if you just follow along and don't question too much.

Sure the movie is slow its not an action movie its full of suspense and drama especially towards the end the last 30 minutes save the movie, you have to be in the right mood to enjoy this film and its not for everyone but its far from being a bad flick.

Not accurate at all. Much of The movie plays with the facts in that how the Japanese soldier was killed and how one of the people who helped them escape committed suicide. After the tribal leader was shot he gathered enough strength to throw the Japanese soldier out the door of the building and into a stone wall while the soldier was laying there his wife crushed his skull with a rock. As far as the person who committed suicide he blew off his head with a shotgun not a pistol.

Fascinating true story but....low budget? The first half hour of dialogue could have come from a Gilligan's Island script. In the final scene, the US soldiers land on the beach in fiberglass Boston Whalers....in 1941?

I LOVED IT. I am wondering why it doesn't mention it is based on a true story. When I click on the wikipedia link, it uses this title and brings up the title but then changes it to the tv series with a similar name. I can't find any information about the events it is based on outside of the movie.

This movie is no closer to being based on the Niihau Incident than a Chipotle fart is to telling the tale of Abraham Lincoln. Don't be making genuine heroes weak by removing their ACTUAL ACTIONS AND MOTIVATIONS and make genuine REAL LIFE VILLAINS sympathetic by giving them fake stories. An amazing story was RUINED AND WASTED with this film. The filmmakers should be ashamed!