Alexander Sokurov releases 'The Sun' - a film about Emperor Hirohito during the final days of the Second World War.

Russian Film-maker Alexander Sokurov has released the third in his trilogy of films exploring the great dictators of the C20th - following films around Hitler and Lenin, 'The Sun' is based around a single day when the late Emperor Hirohito pondered the fate of Japan in the face of US military might during the final days of the Second World War. The film stars a famous Japanese actor playing the Emperor, something which Sokurov intentionally kept secret until the film premiered, in order to protect the actor from possible threats by far-right Nationalists in Japan. There has been very little media attention about the film in Japan - and when (if) cinemas here release it, it is sure to stir controversy. Read a short interview with Sokurov speaking about the film HERE.