Gen d'Hiroshima 2

Watching this and it's predecessor in quick succession, it'll be hard to separate these two films in my mind, such is the continuation of the story. Here we find Gen three years on from the Hiroshima bomb, still trying to survive as the country attempts to find its feet. Food is scarce, people are still dying. The enemy here is clearly the US "Yankee's" and their bomb, unlike the first film where at least joint responsibility was firmly pointed at the Japanese government who took them to war. It's very much the message of innocent civilians that get tangled in the wars dictated by those in power. This doesn't have the brutal punch of the first film, it's more of a slow skewering as radiation poisoning takes hold and the realisation that this was no ordinary bomb. In general it does feel more positive, maybe partly due the ridiculously positive music, whoever was directing the music on this loves a good singalong, but it's still about losing loved ones and struggling to survive in a home that's become a wasteland. Trying to find income, food, shelter, medicine and learning to start anew, with new friends, new family and renewed hope.

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..

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?

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.

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