Required fields are marked *. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Watanabe, or “the Bird” in Unbroken was from an affluent, privileged family. However, underneath the brutality was a desperate need to be liked and accepted. Angelina Jolie was there, too. The Bird subjects prisoners to extreme physical and emotional abuse. Yes, and like in the Unbroken movie, the true story confirms that this infuriated guard Mutsuhiro Watanabe (aka "The Bird"), who gave Louie daily beatings. Related Article: Unbroken: History vs. Hollywood The Bird lounged against the gates, for several minutes, casually eyeing the prisoners without speaking. He eventually chose to forgive The Bird. His sense of dismissal unleashed a monster inside, and he took his anger out on the prisoners. Louis Zamperini, subject of the bestselling book and hit movie, Unbroken, survived years of torture in a Japanese prison camp during World War II, but faced an even greater threat when he got home.Zamperini credited a Billy Graham crusade with eliminating the hate that threatened to destroy him. Unbroken (2014) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. His behavior is erratic and unusually cruel. When Louie did, the Bird punched him again and said not to look him in the eye. After the war, he disappears and never receives formal punishment for his abuses. Nicknamed “The Bird,” Mutsuhiro Watanabe was born into a very wealthy Japanese family. That same childhood insolence made Louie defiant, and he refused to show weakness during beatings. Unbroken is every bit the Oscar-bait movie one would expect, but is elevated by offering viewers several different types of great drama in one tightly woven narrative.. 4 Steps for Negotiation in the Challenger Selling Method, Cultural Racism: Judged Based on Your Way of Life, Five Examples of Medical Racism Throughout the 20th Century, Edward Snowden: CIA TISO Training & Working Abroad, Where the Crawdads Sing’s Jodie: A Brother’s Return, Articles of Confederation: Power for the States, Dr. Gregory Boyd on What the Gospels Get Right, How Louie Zamperini was on track to become an Olympic athlete until the war started, The unbelievable story of his capture as a prisoner of war, The ultimate fate of Louie and his captors. Mutsuhiro Watanabe is a man of many names… and personalities. When Louie tries to meet with him as part of a role in the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, the Bird refuses. Watanabe studied French literature in college and, being a fervent patriot, immediately signed up to join the army after his graduation. That decision would be the catalyst for the suffering of hundreds of men in the years to come. At Mitsushima, the POW officers conspire to poison The Bird but only manage to make him ill. At Naoetsu, as collective punishment for the theft of a fish, The Bird forces Louie, Tinker, and three other officers to receive 220 punches to the face from other prisoners. Watanabe had arrived in winter 1943 and soon became one of the most feared guards in the country. The Bird Quotes in Unbroken. He snuck them extra blankets on winter nights, looked the other way when they stole food, and helped sick men visit a POW doctor instead of the merciless camp physician. Last modified on Mon 3 Dec 2018 10.39 EST. Mutsuhiro Watanabe, known as the Bird to POWs, was a sadistic Japanese leader at two different POW camps, Omori and Naoetsu. Luke wrote for townhall.com, “Dad, you see, survived the horrors of war physically unbroken, but returned to the states emotionally shattered. He destroyed prisoner’s family photos and burned letters from home in front of them. While Jolie certainly doesn't employ the World War II–era stereotypes of Japan promoted by American propaganda, "The Bird" and his fellow torturers are clearly the villains of … Watanabe was a sexual sadist and derived pleasure from inflicting pain on others. EXCLUSIVE: Universal Pictures and director Angelina Jolie have found their villain for the Lou Zamperini tale Unbroken. His tactics were so ferocious, Omori became known as “punishment camp.” The prisoners had many names for Watanabe, but the one used the most was “the Bird.”. He had a particular taste for abusing officers and men who’d been successful as civilians, and as an officer and former Olympian, Louie was the perfect target. Photograph: handout @steverose7. The Bird in Unbroken referred to Louie as “number one prisoner” and beat him daily. Like this article? He was known for his savage beatings, which left men with broken windpipes, ruptured eardrums, broken teeth, and a torn ear in one circumstance. The Bird dies in 2003. Watch the clip titled "The Bird" for the film Unbroken (2014). Tom Henling Wade - a Brit whom Zamp first met at the Omori prison camp - provides some background about Mutsuhiro Watanabe. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one: ). When interviewed, he often blames his actions on the war and shows limited willingness to take personal responsibility for his actions. He was born into a wealthy family but experienced humiliation when he was not made a military officer. He forced men to violate camp rules, then beat them for it. Despite Kano’s benevolence, there was nothing he could do for Louie. the Bird Bird of Prey. Could it be that in his college days, running gave him a high, but after the war, he can't ever feel an adrenaline rush like In seeking the Bird's death to free himself, Louie had chained himself, once again, to his tyrant. The Bird in Unbroken, whose real name was Mutsuhiro Watanabe, was a corporal in charge of discipline at the POW camp where Louis Zamperini was interned. As author Laura Hillenbrand tells it in her book, "Unbroken," Louis Zamperini came home, poured his alcohol down the drain, threw out his cigarettes, was reconciled to his wife and became a … Whatever Louie and the other men had experienced at Ofuna would soon pale in comparison to life at their new POW camp: Omori. He devotes particular attention to Louie, whom he beats on many occasions. This CBS Sports documentary on Louis Zamperini features the rare Mutsuhiro Watanabe interview (aka "The Bird"). Watanabe was known as “The Bird,” and had gone into hiding during the American occupation of Japan. The Bird of Unbroken He resurfaces after America grants amnesty to war criminals, and he spends decades living as a wealthy businessman. Louie’s B-24 The main character was a former Olympic athlete and officer in the Army Air Corps, Louis (Louie) Zamperini. The men try to kill the Bird by contaminating his food with bacteria, but he survives. The Bird Character Analysis in Unbroken | SparkNotes. He works as a farm laborer, waiter, cowherd, and fishmonger while Japanese officials spend years searching for him. Shortform has the world's best summaries of books you should be reading. When Japan went to war, he quit his job and enlisted. He marries, has two children, and travels even to America. The Bird subjects prisoners to extreme physical and emotional abuse. He studied French literature at university and moved to Tokyo to work in a newsroom after graduating in 1942. Known to his family as "Mu-cchan" (4.23.15), to everyone else as the Bird (and a lot of things we can't print here, we're sure), and even sometimes mistranslated as Matsuhiro, Watanabe is the worst of the worst when it comes to abusive prison guards. Because of this, Hillenbrand painstakingly documented this biography to create an extensively factual account of Zamperini’s life. The abuse weighed heavily on Louie. When the war ends, the Bird goes into hiding. That was the moment the men realized they were dealing with a psychopath and when the Bird started his greatest hobby—terrorizing Louie. But these reprieves never lasted long, and within an hour of apologizing, he’d flare into another rage and another round of abuse. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Louis’s Worst Nightmare. Analysis. Louie was eventually knocked down by The Bird, but only because, as depicted in the movie, The Bird cracked Louie so hard in the left temple with a belt buckle that Louie's legs collapsed underneath him. Who is The Bird in Unbroken? Mutsuhiro Watanabe, known as the Bird to POWs, was a sadistic Japanese leader at two different POW camps, Omori and Naoetsu. Prisoners of War called him "The Bird." At the end of the film, Louis returns home safely after two years in a Japanese POW camp, where he received the cruelest of treatment by Mutsuhiro Watanabe, also known as "The Bird." What the Bird took from Louie was his dignity; what he left behind was a pervasive sense of helplessness and worthlessness. The Bird in Unbroken was the first thing he thought about each morning, and he fantasized about strangling his abuser. The Bird’s interest in Louie started from the moment he saw him. What was The Bird’s role in the story? UnbrokenDirector: Angelina JolieStarring: Jack O'Connell, Domhnall Gleeson, Jai Courtney, Garrett Hedlund. The chapter ends with the Bird’s mother spotting her son in Tokyo one evening in late 1948. In turn, Zamperini used his fame to spread the gospel and do good for the rest of his long life. Then, he was suddenly in their faces, screaming and demanding their names. But he was passed over for promotions and told he would never move beyond corporal. Often, Watanabe would show remorse following a beating, crying and apologizing and offering the men cigarettes and candy to win their affections. Louie tried to blend in with other prisoners and hide, but the Bird hunted him like prey and always found him. Hillenbrand discloses that these dreams were so extreme, you almost strangled your pregnant wife to death in your sleep thinking she was the “Bird,” the … Television producers are able to interview him in 1997. Louie (Jack O'Connell) meets The Bird (Miyavi) at the prison camp As I researched Louie’s life, interviewing his fellow POWs and studying their memoirs and diaries, I discovered that this loss of dignity was nearly ubiquitous, leaving the men feeling defenseless and frightened in a world that had become menacing. Who was The Bird in Unbroken? Suffering from PTSD, he tried to kill the pain with alcohol and was consumed by visions of murdering his chief Japanese tormentor, a sadistic man nicknamed “The Bird… A Japanese corporal named Mutsuhiro Watanabe was in charge of disciplinary measures, and none of them, especially Louie, would be spared his wrath. Unbroken, however, portrays the Japanese government's inhumane treatment of Zamperini and his fellow POWs in unrelenting fashion. 4 Unbroken Quotes From the Inspiring True Story. A post at a POW camp was considered the lowest rung on the military’s ladder. Who was The Bird in Unbroken? Men would later recall a small sag in his right eye immediately before a violent tirade occurred. Mutsuhiro Watanabe (Japanese: 渡邊睦裕, 18 January 1918 – April 2003) – nicknamed "the Bird" by his prisoners – was an Imperial Japanese Army soldier in World War II who served at POW camps in Omori, Naoetsu (present day Jōetsu), Niigata, Mitsushima (present day Hiraoka) and at the Civilian POW Camp at Yamakita. Bitter and resentful of high-ranking men, Watanabe’s angst grew after he was transferred to Omori. Laura Hillenbrand’s biography Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption tells the extraordinary story of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner-turned-war-hero. Watanabe’s sights were set on becoming an officer, like his brother, and felt his privilege and education made him a certain candidate. Now David Sakurai has just been cast as Mutsuhiro ‘The Bird’ Wantabe in the Harold Cronk-directed Unbroken: Path to Redemption, the sequel to the three-time Academy Award nominated 2014 film. It was produced by CBS Sports as part of their coverage of the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. Unbroken - Louis Zamperini Story - THE BIRD - THEN AND LATER This image depicts Mutsuhiro (Matsuhiro) Watanabe. Unbroken: Path to Redemption (2018) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Zamperini and his story are featured first. In Unbroken we meet Louis Zamperini, a man with a truly amazing life story. He and his five siblings got everything they wanted and spent their childhood being waited on by servants. Omori was on an artificial island in Tokyo Bay connected to the main city by a bamboo-slat bridge. When Louie looked in his eyes, he saw madness and looked away. Movie Version: Unbroken (2014) The three most important aspects of Unbroken: Unbroken is a true story. To Watanabe, whose mission in life was to command subservience, Louie’s boldness only made things worse. The Bird in Unbroken was known to be ruthless and violent, and he especially targeted Louis. She had always known he was still alive. That first day, Louie and the other Ofuna prisoners were told to stand outside the front gates of Omori. The Bird turns his torture up to eleven, beating Louie, ordering him to clean a pigsty with his hands, and forcing him to do unsafe manual labor jobs. Thu 18 Dec 2014 18.00 EST. What was The Bird’s role in the story? He’d demand to be called a different name each day and punished those who forgot. Miyavi plays Mutsuhiro 'the Bird' Watanabe, in Angelina Jolie's Unbroken. Mutsuhiro Watanabe a.k.a. In Chapter Thirty-Six, Hillenbrand moves into reporting mode and focuses sharp attention on gathering factual information about where the Bird went after disappearing from the Naoetsu POW camp. The Bird in Unbroken, whose real name was Mutsuhiro Watanabe, was a corporal in charge of discipline at the POW camp where Louis Zamperini was interned. The Bird in Unbroken played a huge role in Louis’s life, even after he was liberated from the POW camp. After Japan's defeat, the US Occupation authorities classified Watanabe as a war criminal for his mistreatment of prisoners of war(POWs), but he managed to evade arrest and was never tried in cou… He was born into a wealthy family but experienced humiliation when he was not made a military officer. There are some powerful visual moments in Unbroken that I am sure will move the viewer as they moved me. The Bird in Unbroken was known to be ruthless and violent, and he especially targeted Louis. The Bird interview starts at the 30:20 mark. At this time, Louie sends him a note stating his forgiveness but never knows if he receives it. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each … The Unbroken quotes below are all either spoken by Mutsuhiro “The Bird” Watanabe or refer to Mutsuhiro “The Bird” Watanabe. Since The Bird was twice reported dead by Japanese officials, Louie believed for decades that he was dead. The Bird punched him in the head and demanded that Louie look him in the eye. Louie was desperate for someone to save him, but the only ally the men had at camp was another guard, Private Kano, who often helped the prisoners behind the Bird’s back. The Bird splits his time between Naoetsu and Mitsushima, another POW camp. T he Sydney set of Unbroken had a super-famous icon showing up to work every day. Mutsuhiro “The Bird” Watanabe Quotes in Unbroken. Sign up for a free trial here. Setting of "Unbroken": The "Unbroken" settings included the Pacific Ocean, near Japanese shores, and various POW camps throughout Japan during World War II. During this time, he makes two undetected trips to Tokyo to see his mother briefly before he disappears again. On different occasions, appears to take sexual pleasure in causing pain. Your email address will not be published. These same producers try to arrange a meeting between him and Louie. The Unbroken quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Bird. This article is an excerpt from the Shortform summary of "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand. The Bird in Unbroken caused Louis severe trauma that he dealt with for most of his life. Here's what you'll find in our full Unbroken summary: Your email address will not be published. When interviewed, he quit his job and enlisted were told to outside... And do good for the film Unbroken ( 2014 ) and Mitsushima, POW... 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