The Last Himeyuri, ひめゆり, 学徒隊 — Red Lamb
hot air slicing through
her words, name, body; splattered
on my startled face.
And so ends the story of the Himeyuri.
I first became interested in making a movie version of the story of the Himeyuri when I stumbled, completely by accident, on a rare film clip that burnt itself into my brain. Taken by American G.I.s during the battle, it shows a young woman edging herself to a cliff top and then flinging herself over.
I was both horrified and mystified; why she would do such a thing? The film indicated she was part of the Himeyuri and was escaping possible rape by American soldiers by taking her own life. This was part of my American history I knew nothing about; so began my investigation into the Star Lily Nurse Corps.
Because the film footage was so raw to me – we are witnessing a suicide some fifty years ago – I decided to use it as bookends to the last segment of film. Indeed, the unidentified girl could be any of the Himeyuri, or all of them; since so few survived it seemed a fitting way to close the movie.
This was not an easy film to make. Conventional war films tell simpler stories; true, lots of people die in them but they are nameless figures, usually only seen long enough to perish and never long enough for anyone to become attached to them.
And, as it turns out, I have become very attached to the memories of the Himeyuri. Even though what I have been doing is more fiction than fact Kohitsuji and Shinshii and Ashitomi and all the rest were kind enough to let me take their story in various directions without worrying I was making too much of a mess about it.
The Okinawan word for thank you very much is "Shiduugafuu." I would like to say that to everyone who has been following this story, everyone who has left comments and everyone who has challenged me to make a better movie.
Shiduugafuu.
[cut to: The last members of the Himeyuri preparing to make a break from their cave as the sound of falling bombs echoing through the walls]
Shinshii [in uniform with gun]: It is time, we will escape to the cliffs. All of you, follow me to freedom!
[cut to: the Himeyuri suddenly find themselves pinned down on the beach by American guns high up on the cliff top]
Shinshii: When I give the command I want all of you to run to the cliffs.
Kohitsuji: What? What about you?
Shinshii: I'll draw off their fire long enough for you to escape.
Kohitsuji: No! We must stay together. We will be lost without you!
Shinshii: You have survived this long, you will survive long enough to get home. I know it.
[f/x: sudden machine gun fire]
Shinshii: Now run and live!
Kohitsuji [screaming]: Shinshii! Come back!
[cut to: Kohitsuji falling over Shinshii's body]
Kohitsuji [sobbing]: No … no … no … not Shinshii …
[cut to: the Himeyuri, unable to make it to the cliffs have returned to their cave to await the end]
Kohitsuji : There are so few of us left … Ashitomi-san … Higa-san … Miyagi-san … little Chiaki-san … Niigaki-san … now Shinshii … all gone. It is too sad to even think about.
Tira: I am so tired.
[murmurs: yes, we are tired too]
Tira [taking out her hand grenade]: I don't want to be left behind.
Katsuko [crying]: I will follow you.
[other voices: yes, let us all go together]
Kohitsuji: Yes, I will follow you too. This life is – wait! What is that?
[soldier rushing in]
Soldier: Prepare yourselves! The enemy is here! This is the end! Banzai! Ban –
[f/x: machine gun fire, bombs going off, girls screaming, falling, dying]
Kohitsuji: I – I am alive?
[the cave is jumbled with bodies, blood, gore. nothing moves, no one breathes]
Kohitsuji: Tira? Katsuko?
Kohitsuji: Tira?
Tira: K … Kats …
Kohitsuji: Yes! Yes! You are alive, Tira my dear! I will get you out of here … let's go together. Don't leave me behind. I don't want to be alone.
[it takes her a few seconds to realize Tira has stopped breathing]
Kohitsuji [to self]: O my love, my soul. I have lost everything. Ashitomi, wait for me. Please, I am coming to you. Please. Wait.
[cut to: rocky cliffs above the sea. Kohitsuji makes her way over the rocks, pauses once and then flings herself over the edge. She falls, arms to her sides, until she is swallowed up by the sea. Finis]
Ending Credits:
This film is dedicated to the memories of the Himeyuri Student Nurse Corps.
ひめゆり
学徒隊as well everyone who has made it their responsibility to take care of others in times of great peril.
Shiduugafuu. Thank you very much.