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[adrianasbizarreadventure]

Barefoot Gen - 2/4

Barefoot Gen is a movie that I would say is good but would never recommend to anybody. This movie was absolutely heartwrenching as it depicts the brutal realities of the war.

Barefoot Gen follows Gen and his family in the midst of World War II. The year is 1945, meaning the viewer knows the end of the war is near. What made this movie so hard to watch is how the viewer knew the bomb was coming. Suspense is built up as the characters comment on the war. For example, Gen states “They never drop bombs on us. We’re too boring,” while his father comments that it’s weird that their city hasn’t been attacked unlike the other major cities around them. Gen’s comment not only reflects his point of view as a child during the war, but also foreshadows the violence yet to come. 

The bomb is dropped around the 30 minute mark, or almost halfway into the movie. The movie goes silent as the flash depicts the bomb being dropped. Then, a montage of citizens being literally ripped apart and melted is shown. I didn’t expect this level of carnage to be shown, but it was so shocking I had to pause the movie for a bit. No one was safe, even children and babies were shown getting decimated by the bomb.

There were several quotes throughout the movie that were particularly hard-hitting for me. 

The first one is “I’d like to know if we’ll ever have enough food.” This was said before the bomb was dropped, but it reflects the living conditions that many in Japan were living in prior to bomb. Parents had to hide their worry as their children went hungry, knowing that there wasn’t anything they could do to help them. 

Another quote is said by Gen’s dad, after Gen asks him why they keep fighting in the war. He states “Because this country is ran by madmen,’ and adding, “Sometimes it takes more courage not to fight than to fight, to not want to kill when all around you are calling out for blood." His quote is explicitly anti-war, as it expresses that the many citizens do not support the war effort, but would be labeled as cowards or traitors if they stated that outright. It also brings up the point of who is the most affected by the war. The rich and powerful wage the war, but it is the common man who must fight it. 

Another quote from the movie is when Kimei, or Gen’s mom, raises Tomoko and shows her their city burning, telling her “This is the war that killed your father. Remember it.” This quote shows how the violence depicted in the war won’t stop right after Japan surrenders, but will have lasting effects and cause generational trauma. Gen also states, “Is it possible that one bomb could have done all of this?” Not only is he referring to the immediate aftermath, but the radiation and destruction that would last for many years after. 

Finally, the last quote that stood out is said by Gen’s mother. After being told that the Japanese army finally surrendered, she cries out, “Tell me, why now? Why not before?” The Japanese government was warned about the second bombing, but ignored it and tries to report as little as possible on the destruction of Hiroshima. Days later, the second bomb was dropped. How much carnage could have been avoided if they had heeded America’s warning? 

The movie does end on an optimistic note, with Gen’s hair and the wheat growing. I also liked how the movie showed people coming together, rather than pitting them against each other for survival; for example, a woman helped feed Tomoko, even after she threatened her. And, of course, Ryuta and Gen help a sick man find his purpose again, telling him to never give up.

[adrianasbizarreadventure]

I agree that the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are never discussed in depth in history. We’re taught that America had to drop the bomb to end the war, but are never told about the aftermath of the bombs. I only vaguely knew of the after affects from hearing stories about survivors. Seeing the bombing from a Japanese context is completely different from everything else I’ve seen/heard about the bombings and has been eye-opening, to say the least. 

Watching Gen’s family burn was perhaps one of the saddest parts of the movie. Watching his mother struggle to help them, only to leave them to burn was heart-wrenching. Even though Gen watched his father, sister, brother, and his newborn baby sister die, he still kept that sense of optimism. The movie ends on a hopeful note, and leaves the viewer feeling at least somewhat better about Gen’s circumstances. 

Hiroshima: The AutoBiography of 'Barefoot Gen'

Wow… that was incredible. It was also incredibly saddening. I cried twice.

I experienced a range of emotions watching this film. I felt heartbroken but optimistic at other events. The whole film was a beautiful effort in portraying the horrors of what occurred in Hiroshima. What irritates me is I never would have seen this through the eyes of the Japanese victims-- in history, I was never taught the long-lasting effects the nuclear bomb had on Hiroshima’s citizens. I actually learned about this through my marine science class, as the radioactivity was consumed by the sea life and poisoned many of the fish distributed to different countries. I’m thankful I was given the opportunity to sit and understand the extent of the pain various individuals experienced-- it also angers me that war ever leads to such a violent extent. Japanese leaders turned a blind eye to their people for their pride, and Americans bombed two major cities just to win the war. People’s lives became at stake, all for the white flag to be raised.

Concerning the context of the movie, my heart goes out to Gen. He was handed extremely difficult responsibilities at a very young age. As I watched the bomb drop from the B-29, I grew extremely anxious-- I knew what was going to happen, but to actually visualize it before it occurred was impossible to me. Watching everyone’s skin peel back, eyes rolling out of their heads, hair flaring up: a genuine nightmare. What broke me was witnessing his family die; that genuinely destroyed me. I was pretty much sobbing at my computer screen. The movie title ‘Barefoot Gen’ envelops a new meaning when the shift of despair happens after the bombing. Gen and his family weren’t well-off, to begin with. For the bomb to eradicate the one thing they all valued--family--instilled this sense of determination in Gen and his mother to prevail against their circumstances once again, without the others.

A characteristic of the movie I enjoyed was Gen’s never-ending optimism. Although the movie is describing the event on a personal level, it seems as if we watch this continuously through Gen’s eyes. This also seeps through his siblings in not having a complete understanding of their circumstances, even before the bombing. His young age protected him from losing his hope, but also intensified many instances of pain. He promised his father he would protect his mother and sister, yet he was too late to save her. It's a very emotional journey, but a great way to spend my evening.