Kenji Comes Home

  • Documentary
1/1/1949
35

Storyline

Kenji Comes Home is a 1949 documentary film produced by Paul F. Heard. Written and directed by Charles F. Schwep, it was filmed on location in Japan and employed native actors. The film is the story of Kenji, a repatriated prisoner of war in Japan, and his difficulties in settling down. He is torn between the glowing promises of communism and ideals of his girlfriend Aki's Christian religion. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

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      Reviews

      • Geronimo1967

        This short feature follows the return of Kenji Morikawa to his Japanese hometown some two years after the end of WWII only to find himself alone. He has no family, no job and no home so cuts quite a lonely figure as he wanders the streets. Fortunately, he encounters the enthusiastic young Shiru, a bit of an urchin, and together they visit the home of Aki and her mother. She was the sister of one of his childhood friends who did not survive the war and soon the two are soon spending time together. Meantime, Kenji manages to get himself a job in a factory and things begin to look up. At work, however, the well-intentioned introduction of an elementary trades union is beginning to develop into something less democratic and more Communist in na...

        June 1, 2025