He eventually chose to forgive The Bird. In Unbroken we meet Louis Zamperini, a man with a truly amazing life story. Watch the clip titled "The Bird" for the film Unbroken (2014). He destroyed prisoner’s family photos and burned letters from home in front of them. 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. The Bird lounged against the gates, for several minutes, casually eyeing the prisoners without speaking. Louis’s Worst Nightmare. The Bird dies in 2003. Required fields are marked *. The Bird subjects prisoners to extreme physical and emotional abuse. Prisoners of War called him "The Bird." He works as a farm laborer, waiter, cowherd, and fishmonger while Japanese officials spend years searching for him. The Bird in Unbroken was the first thing he thought about each morning, and he fantasized about strangling his abuser. The chapter ends with the Bird’s mother spotting her son in Tokyo one evening in late 1948. Then, he was suddenly in their faces, screaming and demanding their names. He’d demand to be called a different name each day and punished those who forgot. That first day, Louie and the other Ofuna prisoners were told to stand outside the front gates of Omori. Watanabe studied French literature in college and, being a fervent patriot, immediately signed up to join the army after his graduation. The Bird Quotes in Unbroken. 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… Watanabe had arrived in winter 1943 and soon became one of the most feared guards in the country. His sense of dismissal unleashed a monster inside, and he took his anger out on the prisoners. The Bird subjects prisoners to extreme physical and emotional abuse. However, underneath the brutality was a desperate need to be liked and accepted. He was born into a wealthy family but experienced humiliation when he was not made a military officer. He was born into a wealthy family but experienced humiliation when he was not made a military officer. Mutsuhiro Watanabe a.k.a. He was known for his savage beatings, which left men with broken windpipes, ruptured eardrums, broken teeth, and a torn ear in one circumstance. Mutsuhiro Watanabe, known as the Bird to POWs, was a sadistic Japanese leader at two different POW camps, Omori and Naoetsu. Setting of "Unbroken": The "Unbroken" settings included the Pacific Ocean, near Japanese shores, and various POW camps throughout Japan during World War II. That decision would be the catalyst for the suffering of hundreds of men in the years to come. 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 men try to kill the Bird by contaminating his food with bacteria, but he survives. After the war, he disappears and never receives formal punishment for his abuses. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Whatever Louie and the other men had experienced at Ofuna would soon pale in comparison to life at their new POW camp: Omori. A post at a POW camp was considered the lowest rung on the military’s ladder. In turn, Zamperini used his fame to spread the gospel and do good for the rest of his long life. Who is The Bird in Unbroken? 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." Watanabe was known as “The Bird,” and had gone into hiding during the American occupation of Japan. 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. The Bird of Unbroken The main character was a former Olympic athlete and officer in the Army Air Corps, Louis (Louie) Zamperini. Omori was on an artificial island in Tokyo Bay connected to the main city by a bamboo-slat bridge. During this time, he makes two undetected trips to Tokyo to see his mother briefly before he disappears again. Unbroken - Louis Zamperini Story - THE BIRD - THEN AND LATER This image depicts Mutsuhiro (Matsuhiro) Watanabe. Bitter and resentful of high-ranking men, Watanabe’s angst grew after he was transferred to Omori. 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.. The Bird Character Analysis in Unbroken | SparkNotes. Like this article? He devotes particular attention to Louie, whom he beats on many occasions. Here's what you'll find in our full Unbroken summary: Your email address will not be published. Unbroken (2014) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. That same childhood insolence made Louie defiant, and he refused to show weakness during beatings. What was The Bird’s role in the story? Photograph: handout @steverose7. UnbrokenDirector: Angelina JolieStarring: Jack O'Connell, Domhnall Gleeson, Jai Courtney, Garrett Hedlund. The Bird in Unbroken referred to Louie as “number one prisoner” and beat him daily. Louie (Jack O'Connell) meets The Bird (Miyavi) at the prison camp When the war ends, the Bird goes into hiding. Often, Watanabe would show remorse following a beating, crying and apologizing and offering the men cigarettes and candy to win their affections. T he Sydney set of Unbroken had a super-famous icon showing up to work every day. Angelina Jolie was there, too. 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. Who was The Bird in Unbroken? Mutsuhiro Watanabe is a man of many names… and personalities. The Bird in Unbroken played a huge role in Louis’s life, even after he was liberated from the POW camp. Unbroken: Path to Redemption (2018) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. 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: ). 4 Unbroken Quotes From the Inspiring True Story. Watanabe was a sexual sadist and derived pleasure from inflicting pain on others. The Bird in Unbroken caused Louis severe trauma that he dealt with for most of his life. Louie’s B-24 Analysis. Mutsuhiro Watanabe, known as the Bird to POWs, was a sadistic Japanese leader at two different POW camps, Omori and Naoetsu. 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. 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. Louie tried to blend in with other prisoners and hide, but the Bird hunted him like prey and always found him. At this time, Louie sends him a note stating his forgiveness but never knows if he receives it. The Bird splits his time between Naoetsu and Mitsushima, another POW camp. 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… He marries, has two children, and travels even to America. He studied French literature at university and moved to Tokyo to work in a newsroom after graduating in 1942. Who was The Bird in 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 forced men to violate camp rules, then beat them for it. Because of this, Hillenbrand painstakingly documented this biography to create an extensively factual account of Zamperini’s life. To Watanabe, whose mission in life was to command subservience, Louie’s boldness only made things worse. Luke wrote for townhall.com, “Dad, you see, survived the horrors of war physically unbroken, but returned to the states emotionally shattered. Last modified on Mon 3 Dec 2018 10.39 EST. 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. 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. The abuse weighed heavily on Louie. Your email address will not be published. Television producers are able to interview him in 1997. What was The Bird’s role in the story? When Louie did, the Bird punched him again and said not to look him in the eye. 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. He and his five siblings got everything they wanted and spent their childhood being waited on by servants. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each … Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. 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 … Shortform has the world's best summaries of books you should be reading. Despite Kano’s benevolence, there was nothing he could do for Louie. 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. Since The Bird was twice reported dead by Japanese officials, Louie believed for decades that he was dead. But he was passed over for promotions and told he would never move beyond corporal. On different occasions, appears to take sexual pleasure in causing pain. These same producers try to arrange a meeting between him and Louie. This CBS Sports documentary on Louis Zamperini features the rare Mutsuhiro Watanabe interview (aka "The Bird"). Men would later recall a small sag in his right eye immediately before a violent tirade occurred. A Japanese corporal named Mutsuhiro Watanabe was in charge of disciplinary measures, and none of them, especially Louie, would be spared his wrath. What the Bird took from Louie was his dignity; what he left behind was a pervasive sense of helplessness and worthlessness. 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. Related Article: Unbroken: History vs. Hollywood The Unbroken quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Bird. The Bird’s interest in Louie started from the moment he saw him. 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. EXCLUSIVE: Universal Pictures and director Angelina Jolie have found their villain for the Lou Zamperini tale Unbroken. Zamperini and his story are featured first. When Louie looked in his eyes, he saw madness and looked away. The Bird in Unbroken was known to be ruthless and violent, and he especially targeted Louis. 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 in Unbroken, whose real name was Mutsuhiro Watanabe, was a corporal in charge of discipline at the POW camp where Louis Zamperini was interned. Movie Version: Unbroken (2014) The three most important aspects of Unbroken: Unbroken is a true story. There are some powerful visual moments in Unbroken that I am sure will move the viewer as they moved me. Sign up for a free trial here. It was produced by CBS Sports as part of their coverage of the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. His behavior is erratic and unusually cruel. Watanabe, or “the Bird” in Unbroken was from an affluent, privileged family. 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. Nicknamed “The Bird,” Mutsuhiro Watanabe was born into a very wealthy Japanese family. Miyavi plays Mutsuhiro 'the Bird' Watanabe, in Angelina Jolie's Unbroken. 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. 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. the Bird Bird of Prey. The Bird in Unbroken was known to be ruthless and violent, and he especially targeted Louis. But these reprieves never lasted long, and within an hour of apologizing, he’d flare into another rage and another round of abuse. When Japan went to war, he quit his job and enlisted. The Bird punched him in the head and demanded that Louie look him in the eye. 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. Watanabe’s sights were set on becoming an officer, like his brother, and felt his privilege and education made him a certain candidate. Thu 18 Dec 2014 18.00 EST. The Unbroken quotes below are all either spoken by Mutsuhiro “The Bird” Watanabe or refer to Mutsuhiro “The Bird” Watanabe. This article is an excerpt from the Shortform summary of "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand. When Louie tries to meet with him as part of a role in the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, the Bird refuses. The Bird interview starts at the 30:20 mark. 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 … Tom Henling Wade - a Brit whom Zamp first met at the Omori prison camp - provides some background about Mutsuhiro Watanabe. He resurfaces after America grants amnesty to war criminals, and he spends decades living as a wealthy businessman. That was the moment the men realized they were dealing with a psychopath and when the Bird started his greatest hobby—terrorizing Louie. When interviewed, he often blames his actions on the war and shows limited willingness to take personal responsibility for his actions. She had always known he was still alive. 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 … Mutsuhiro “The Bird” Watanabe Quotes in Unbroken. 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