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

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!

..so that we lead humanity in better direction! It is heartbreaking to see what we are capable of doing to each other. Just watch it and remember.

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!

We are now roughly 80 years removed from WWII and the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Very very few people are alive today that were alive back then, and even fewer still that had anything to do with WWII. I know the rationalization is that the U. S. had to do something to end the war, but it's just that: a rationalization.

"White Light/Black Rain" is a documentary with interviews and footage of survivors of the bombings that occurred on August 6th and 9th, 1945 (Hiroshima & Nagasaki). The "white light" was the intense light from the detonation of the bomb. The "black rain" was the radioactive wet ash that rained down afterwards.

There are also interviews of some of the American scientists and soldiers who were involved with the bombing-- each one doing his duty. Still, it's one of those things that after you've done it you ask, "What have we done?"

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.