Hadashi no Gen 2

A harrowing and intense film about the devastating consequences of the Hiroshima's bombing as seen through the eyes of a boy. Hiroshima 2 (1986) by Toshio Hirata, is the follow-up to Hadashi no Gen (Hiroshima) (1983) by Mori Masaki ; again with an anti-war vibe, set three years after the dropping of the first atomic bomb, it stars Gen, his mother, and his adoptive brother Ryuata, who try to survive in the devastated city where hunger and disease take a deep toll on its inhabitants due to the ravages caused. It is partially based on the manga, by the author who personally suffered the chaos caused by the dropping of the first bomb.

In order to relate what Hadashi no Gen 2 (1986) (Hiroshima II) is about, it is unavoidable to describe the plot of Hadashi no Gen (1983) (Hirossima I): After almost four years of war in the Pacific, Gen, his family and the rest of the citizens of Hiroshima are accustomed to seeking shelter when Allied B29 planes fly over the city. Focuses on the peaceful and naive life of a happy family in the country, when is suddenly destroyed by nuclear war. In reality, they have never been heavily bombed... until August 6, 1945. Based on real events, Barefoot Gen I and II are two stories of courage, fight, survival and moving experiences.

A magnificent Anime idetailing strongly and crudely how a group of children have to survive by any means among a city completely annihilated by the atomic bomb. A thoughtful and thought-provoking anti-war film, this is a cult anime that tells, from a child's point of view, the devastating consequences of the nuclear explosion. After almost four years of war in the Pacific, Gen, his family and the rest of the citizens of Hiroshima are accustomed to seeking shelter when Allied B29 planes fly over the city. Focuses on the peaceful and naive life of a happy family in the country, when is suddenly destroyed by nuclear war. In reality, they have never been heavily bombed... until August 6, 1945.

A n excelleny animated feature dealing with a poignant, sad, and just a big scary plot. Based on Keiji Nakazawa's manga of the same name, the film offers very brutal images, showing the horror of a nuclear explosion, faithfully detailing a complete apocalypse until reaching a strange and beautifully hopeful ending. It is a powerful film to watch, in which your heart sinks due to the terrifying spectacle that we see. The cartoon images are made in traditional style , an almost primitive and naif drawing , but is enough agreeable and charming . Narrating life at the Hiroshima location where civilisation has been completely destroyed, showing how the local people try to survive without even the most basic utilities and skills . The imaginative and colorful animation is at its best and the film most effective during the sequences of their reminiscences, when the daily round of their past lives is seen as a delight in the ordinary and in a history which is not just forgotten but literally obliterated. But the slow degradation of the family is almost unbearably moving. The only note of hope is that it might just get through to some people who have a say in such matters. An enjoyable and sensitive film not for squeamish or the faint-hearted people.

This movie was part of a cycle of movies in the Seventies and Eighties about nuclear war and the risks of nuclear energy. Other movies included: The Ultimate Warrior (1975), Twilight's Last Gleaming (1977), The China syndrome (1979), When the Wind Blows (1986), Silkwood (1983), Testamentl (1983), Threads (1984), War Games (1983), The after day (1983), The atomic cafe (1982), Whoops Apocalypse (1982), Special Bulletin (1983), Ground Zero (1987), Hiroshima (1983), Rules of Engagement (1989), Dead Man's Letters (1986), Memoirs of a Survivor(1981) and Danger: Chain reaction (1980). The motion picture was well directed by Toshio Hirata. He was a director and assistant director (1938-2014) known for The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006), Jetter Mars (1977) , The Fantastic Adventures of Unico (1981), Natsu e no tobira (1981) and Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl (1989).

In the films Hadashi no Gen I (1983) by Nori Masaki and Hadashi no Gen 2 ( 1986) by Toshio Hirata, everything happens in an overwhelming way, it is impressive and perhaps some may find what is told and shown to be excessive. But it was a reality, as the film proclaims, that should never be repeated. The films stir consciences and stomachs, squeeze the tear duct and shrink the hearts, being two films necessary to see and totally essential, and so it was because history will say that the atomic bomb made Japan surrender to the USA and ended the Second World War, but without this feature film it is difficult to feel a minimum part of the suffering endured by those who were exposed to the bomb itself.

A respectable movie compared to its predecessor. The story was well done for the most part with one or two minor flaws. A plot not too complicated and was easy to understand. The pacing was alright for the most part but a bit too fast. Although we didn't get the same emotional attachtement as much as the original. The animation was pretty much the same as the original but a teeny tiny bit better. We are introduced to new characters who are pretty likable and we'll written for the most part.

Overall an enjoyable sequel with similar levels of tension to that of the predecessor but lacks some originaility and had some reused elements.

Memorable: No Rewatchable: Unlikely..

Much better than its predecessor. Far less tonal indecision, mainly due to their being less horror graphics.

It also has a more engaging plot than the first one; rather than a rather tiresome "do what you have to survive, even though you are whining about it the entire time", this one has many more characters brought in the mix it up and there are several different events that add interest. These various events that move the plot along manage to demonstrate the trials, tribulations, and perseverance necessary for the survivors far more effectively than relying on harrowing graphics. (We learn that the survivors refer to it as "pika don"- furthermore, that this term is onomatopoeic, as in, the flash of light ("pika") and the subsequent sound ("don") of the atomic bomb explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.)

However, albeit in a much more acceptable dosage, the same weakness as previously noted were present in the first one are recognizable in this sequel. One that is unavoidable as it is about as frequent is the voices. They often sound like screaming, and the main characters, Gen, but especially Ryuta, are regularly crying out, shrieking, whining. Not sure why, but it hardly seems obligatory.

Yes, Barefoot Gen 1 is a fantastic movie, no doubts allowed;-). As far as I can remember, there's only one Sequel to any movie I saw that was better than its predecessor: Babe: Pig in the City. Okay, and now there are two. I watched both parts of Barefoot Gen in a row. Of course part 1 stands as one, if not the strongest anti-war movie that ever was created, but there's more: the tragedy afterwards. Those who died more or less immediately after the detonation were the lucky ones, while those who suffered had the real hell on earth. I watched 'Grave of the Fireflys' before 'Barefoot Gen 1 & 2', and after watching 'Grave...' I checked Wiki on Hiroshima, the damage, the aftermath, how it looked like and so on, and there was the story of a girl, 12-year old Sadako Sasaki, who survived the bomb, but died from leukemia in 1955. Need I say more?

After watching Keiji's masterpiece, Barefoot Gen, I was amazed, shocked and touched. The first film truly was incredible and hit harder than any film I can remember seeing. So, naturally, when I went on to watch the second part I was both excited and skeptic. Is it better than the first? Certainly not, and I think we can all agree on that. But, does this film still deliver? Absolutely.

Many believe that Barefoot Gen should have been left as it was, and so do I to a certain extent. But at the same time, the second film offers something the first didn't or couldn't - the aftermath. It shows us how Hiroshima was effected long-term by just one decision. It makes sure you don't ever forget what happened that fateful day. While it's all nice to tie loose ends and act like Gen went on continuing to live a happy life at the end of the first part, the fact was and is, he didn't. Keiji wanted you to know how long lasting these effects were, on not only him, but the whole of Hiroshima. Japan didn't just get over this tragedy. Hiroshima had to continue rebuilding its society in its barren and desolate state.

With all this said, there are definitely reason why this film didn't live up to its successor. All the intense emotion and horror captured in the first film just didn't seem to be there this time around. Things seem a little toned down and by the end of the film, your pretty tired of it all, as you feel you got the idea, the message, Keiji was trying to get across long ago. Regardless, I still very much enjoyed this sequel and it's one of the much better ones you will see.

Hamish Kearvell A.K.A Screaming Japan Productions - www.myspace.com/screamingjapanproductions