Dawn of a New Day Review

"Dawn of a New Day" is a touching film about a man from a modest background that, through determination and hard work, accomplished something that changed the history of modern technology: he invented the VHS. His dedication to the improvement of a company that seemed to not really care about him at all is quite moving, as most people would either not care what happened to the company or would quit. Kagaya, the main character, did not have a college education, but seemed to be somewhat of a genius. His ideas took a company that was floundering to a new level. This story is not one that I have ever heard and I doubt many Americans know or think about the invention of the VHS. It is just something we take for granted. However, the story is very inspiring and emotional. The fact that Kagaya went through so much (no sleep, not seeing his family, his wife having a stroke, etc.) to accomplish something that no one else believed in is a testament to his character. Also, after Matsushita accepted the VHS over the Betamax, Kagaya's return to his family was very moving. I had no idea, though, that there was such a battle between Betamax and VHS, and that one company, Matsushita, had so much influence over the decision of which one makes it. It is surprising to me that this movie did not make more of an international splash. It would probably do fairly well in America. It is a story that most people should know. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and would highly recommend it to my friends.