Rising Sun is a movie about the death of an American woman at the office premises of a Japanese corporation. It is based on the book of Michael Crichton with the same title.
The cause of the woman’s death appears to be rough sex. As a response to death of the American woman, Detective Web Smith was called by the company to look into the incident. He then picks up John Connor, who used to be police officer with a lot of experience in Japanese culture and psyche. Although Smith feels that everything is obvious, Connor believes that there is a deeper case behind the death of the woman.The investigation of the two detectives led them to discover footage of the scene.
The problem is, the disc was edited so as to implicate a Senator and a wealthy Japanese businessman. In the process of investigation, Connor and Web explores the relationship of senpai (teacher) and kohai (junior partner). Furthermore, they also become involved in the high stakes game of Japanese businessmen in Los Angeles. The accused Japanese businessman could not afford the bad publicity from the event because he is in the process of acquiring an American firm.
With the issue of the murder becoming public, his bid for the American firm could be endangered. Issues Explored in the Movie The movie explores issues of race and racism, the economics of the United States and the influence of Japanese businessmen in economics as well as the practice of two detectives. Race and racism is explored in the movie through the identity of the different characters involved in the murder of the American woman. The fact that Web is a black man also highlighted the issue of race and racism.Connor and Web also shows the way that Japanese culture works, albeit in the eyes of Americans. Yet, as the movie progresses, Connor discovers that what he knows about Japanese culture and sensibilities are but the tip of the iceberg.
Although the movie is about the murder of an American woman, the story becomes the backdrop of an exploration of the trade relationships between the United States and Japan. Japanese businessmen also have business practices that give them an edge over American ones.The Japanese were portrayed as having sophisticated gadgets that could allow them to monitor their American partners. The movie also presented American women who were locked up by Japanese for the purpose of providing sexual services to the Japanese.
Conclusion As the movie unfolds, the identity of the killer would be anyone’s guess. Yet, the more important issues of the film concern the Japanese-American business practices, racism and the shadowy side of business.In addition to this, the movie also tends to be overly mysterious, which does not add up much to the success of the movie. Crichton’s book, and the movie adaptation, too, also tends to provide a subtle criticism of Japanese subculture. The image of Japanese executives wielding high level control may be seen as racist.
The author has been accused of racism and this accusation is not without basis. The movie is still entertaining, especially with Sean Connery and Wesley Snipes in the cast.
