White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

The Japanese people, throughout their history, have always been ruled by one of the most cruelest, arrogant and barbaric group of thugs ever in power...the uncaring Emperor's, Shoguns and the Samurai (who would behead peasants if they failed to bow to them). The leaders in WW2 were even more arrogant than any of their ancestors; and way more than American politicians and military warmongers. I am a person who has loved the art and history etc of the far east even though the people have a penchant for unbelievable and horrific violence. It is still prevalent today! If you also look into the history of America it also has a tainted and violent history (look at the mass slaughter and genocide of the Native American people, who once numbered 500 tribes).

I mention the above only so that people know that no country is a totally innocent country but, its ordinary citizens, its children etc should not be the recipient of such barbaric violence that is perpetuated in war!

Yes! Japan committed one of the most cowardly acts in history when they bombed Pearl Harbour but, America reciprocated with a cold hardhearted plan of the most despicable atrocity ever done to human beings! There is a whole lot of evidence to show that Japan was used as an Atomic testing ground...think Russia; that however is a story for another time elsewhere.

This is a documentary that should be shown to people around the world, in schools etc. The Japanese public should be told the real story (as I found it disgraceful that the younger people there had no idea of what pain Japan caused throughout the war) of what happened to their country on August 6th 1945 and, about the disgraceful way their government treats Hiroshima and Nagasaki victims to this very day! Stories like these need to be compulsory education so that you don't get numb-nut yanks and others blabbing about how so and so should be nuked etc, etc!

Its heartbreaking and will move many to tears but I fear documentary pieces, such as this, will not have the effect of pushing the world into the streets, to march, protest and call for the eradication of all Nuclear weapons.

WW3 will wipe out most of mankind and those who are left to start WW4 will only have rocks to throw! Einstein was so right when he said that!

Incredibly graphic and confronting, but it should be, effectively driving home how horrifying these nuclear attacks were, and the enormous impact they had not just in 1945, but also in the ensuing decades.

It was a good choice to focus on the survivors. I feel like often in documentaries about tragedies, the survivor's stories aren't focused on as much, but here, I'd say at least 75% of the documentary is devoted to their experiences. Their stories are horrifying and have a great impact.

Living in a western country, there definitely seems to be more media and documentaries about other historical tragedies over this one (or these two, more accurately). Sometimes, you need a blunt, graphic, but respectful documentary like this to make a knowledge of the statistics of those who died more than just a number.

White Light/Black Rain is a devastating portrait of the horrors that the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki faced during and after the Atomic Bombings, doing so through vivid, haunting firsthand accounts from survivors of the blasts. This film illuminates the suffering of those who survived, while contrasting that with interviews of young, modern Japanese who when asked about what happened in 1945, surprisingly, have no clue. This is a revelatory example of a unique aspect of Japanese culture. In remaking themselves into a capitalist technology obsessed society, it seems to want to almost forget about the nightmares of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The price paid for this willful forgetfulness usually falls squarely on the shoulders of the aging survivors, who have been discriminated against as if they were pariahs while constantly being tested on for scientific purposes since the bombings. Thankfully there are films like these to help keep the firsthand accounts recorded for future generations. This film also has firsthand accounts of the American pilots and scientists, who didn't even understand the potential effects of radiation, that helped foster this horrifying event, but for the purpose of this database we should focus on the firsthand Japanese accounts, giving visual examples to why these weapons should never be used again. All too often in American history we acknowledge these attacks as the end of the war and eventual cause for celebration. With White Light/Black Rain, we see though the war may have ended, these nightmarish bombs destroyed so many innocent lives.

White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (2007)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Haunting, chilling and sad documentary taking a look at the Atomic Bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of WWII. The documentary from director Steven Okazaki speaks with survivors of the events as well as Americans involved in the dropping of the bombs. What caught me off guard about this documentary is that it doesn't try to place blame, question the events or really doing any type of second guessing. I think it's clear that the message is that nothing like this should ever happen again but I give the director credit for not trying to change history and instead use it to show what actually happened and to hopefully prevent anything like it from happening again. I'm really not sure who to recommend this to because even though it's very good the subject matter is just rather painful to watch and especially during the stories being told by the survivors. Hearing stories of children being blown to pieces only to unfortunately survive and realize that everyone they know is dead was heartbreaking. Even worse is seeing some of the pain that the people were in because the blast was so strong that it melted many people on contact while others had their eyes blown out and some were pretty much burned to the bone. We get to see many photos and videos taken the day after the bomb and it's just shocking to see the aftermath. Even more shocking is seeing how much damage the bombs did to people's bodies and it's just amazing that so many children were burned over 100% of their body and yet were able to survive. The documentary really does pay justice to those brave enough to survive this entire ordeal and it's just amazing to see. The film also talks with some Americans involved and get their thoughts on the matter. This certainly isn't an easy film to watch but I think it's message is right there on full display.

The bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the world history is the beginning of the nuclear age. This documentary's poignant truth of victims' experience of the atomic bomb gives a real insight on what happened on both days. What is shown is beyond graphic and makes you wonder why this had to happen. Was it really justified to hurt all these people? Steven Okazaki and his crew interview these brave individuals who want people to know what happened and why it should never happen again.

I cried many times throughout this documentary because it was very edgy and thought provoking. The musical score really envelopes the message of this film. Sad waning of trumpets enlighten the souls that have passed on and memorializes what they stood for. I highly recommend this film. In my opinion though, it is not for the queasy or faint hearted. Bless all those who lost their lives in World War II and the many struggles around the world today!