Hiroshima Blu-ray Review

Arrow Academy's Blu-ray release of "Hiroshima" presents the film with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its original 1.37:1 aspect ratio, sourced from a High Definition master by Raintrail Pictures. This restoration includes footage from the 1955 US international edit, contributing to the heterogeneous visual quality of the film. Unfortunately, many elements used show significant damage, characterized by numerous large and persistent scratches, nicks, jittery frames, and rough optical dissolves. Some scenes, suspected to be stock footage, appear in poor condition, further adding to a sense of inconsistency.

Despite these drawbacks, there are moments where Arrow's presentation excels, displaying deep blacks, well-modulated gray scales, and precise fine detail. Grain resolves well without compression anomalies, even during scenes filled with dust and debris from the explosion's aftermath. These attributes allow for clear imagery and high textural density. Facial close-ups reveal fine details thanks to the high-resolution scan, and makeups mimicking burns and scars are notably effective. While slightly pale, the grayscale provides sufficient depth with smooth gradient transitions. Exterior sunlight scenes are effectively heated, while grim hospital interiors capture an appropriate darkness, making this Blu-ray release a commendable effort under challenging circumstances.

The audio presentation of "Hiroshima" on Blu-ray features an LPCM 2.0 Mono track in the original Japanese, accompanied by optional English subtitles. As expected for a film of its era, the audio track exhibits occasional damage that parallels similar issues in the video domain. Despite these blemishes, the dialogue is relayed without significant impediments, ensuring clarity when delivering key lines. Sound effects, notably during the catastrophic detonation, are well-preserved, and the repeated employment of music within the film, both as underscore and diegetic elements, is rendered adequately given the limitations inherent to the period's recording technology.

However, the aging of the audio track also brings some pronounced drawbacks. The PCM format does its best to maintain the integrity of the original recording, but it cannot fully eliminate instances of heavy static, extreme popping, and tears that cause discernible skips at editing points. Dialogue delivery under these conditions occasionally suffers from harshness and stretches the treble limits, affecting listener comfort. Furthermore, Akira Ifukube’s somber score, which includes a main theme later used in 1954’s "Godzilla," offers marginally improved smoothness over the dialogue but is by no means pristine. Notably, a choral segment within the score is plagued by significant garbling, detracting from its intended emotional impact.

Overall, while "Hiroshima" delivers its aural elements with a degree of faithfulness to its original release conditions, listeners must be prepared for some audio artifacts that are symptomatic of the film's vintage nature. These artifacts are preserved, more than mitigated, by the LPCM 2.0 Mono track.

The extras for the Blu-Ray release of "Hiroshima" present a highly engaging and informative set of features that complement the main film with historical depth and personal narratives. "Hiroshima Nagasaki Download," a 72-minute documentary by Shinpei Takeda, is a notably artistic and riveting exploration that encompasses interviews with survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki living across North America. The package includes an insightful introduction by Takeda. Jasper Sharp contributes a compelling 33-minute video essay, "Hiroshima, Cinema and Japan's Nuclear Imagination," which explores cinematic portrayals of the bombings. An archival interview with actress Yumeji Tsukioka is also featured, offering a six-minute reflection on her experience and role in the film. Additionally, a well-appointed Arrow insert booklet with essays, including one by Sharp, offers further contextual understanding.

Extras included in this disc:

Hiroshima Nagasaki Download: Artful documentary with survivor interviews. Introduction by Shinpei Takeda: Director's insights on the documentary. Hiroshima, Cinema and Japan's Nuclear Imagination: Video essay on nuclear films. Interview with actress Yumeji Tsukioka: Archival interview discussing her role. Arrow Insert Booklet: Includes two insightful essays.

Alain Resnais’ "Hiroshima Mon Amour" contains some of the most haunting and iconic sequences in film history, particularly the scenes documenting the injuries of Hiroshima's survivors. This footage, sourced from actual newsreels post-blast, continues to disturb viewers with its unflinching portrayal of human suffering. The movie juxtaposes these visceral images with a storyline set in 1953, focusing on survivors grappling with radiation sickness. Eiji Okada’s portrayal of a teacher navigating the horrors experienced by his students underscores the lasting impact of the atomic bomb.

The 1953 film "Hiroshima" does not shy away from intense political commentary, often veering into melodrama to emphasize its anti-war message. Early scenes depict the harrowing decline of a schoolgirl due to radiation sickness, coupled with anti-American sentiments clearly derived from contemporary propaganda. The movie critiques both American actions and Japanese nationalism, rendering a balance that highlights the exploitation and suffering caused by war. While some elements may come off as blatantly theatrical to modern audiences, they serve a purpose in grounding viewers in the brutal reality faced by the Japanese populace.

This film is unflinching in its authenticity, offering dramatic recreations that maintain an uncomfortable realism. Scenes depicting the struggles for food and survival amid ruined landscapes evoke a powerful response, though they also illustrate the superficiality of governmental responses. The character-driven drama adds emotional depth, depicting Japan’s stringent social hierarchies and the deep-seated prejudice against those impacted by wartime deformities. The narrative construct succeeds in invoking a desperate appeal for truth and historical accuracy, ensuring that the film remains a poignant reminder of the consequences of blind nationalism and militaristic ambition.

Hiroshima

The Blu-ray release of "Hiroshima" offers viewers a profound and nuanced exploration of one of history's most tragic events. This 1953 film is a pivotal Japanese response to the atomic bombing, capturing authentic storytelling steeped in historical context. The movie navigates the complex emotions and societal impacts following the end of the American occupation, allowing Japanese filmmakers to delve deeply into themes that were previously suppressed. The narrative bravely confronts both Japanese missteps and American wartime actions, providing a balanced yet harrowing portrayal of war's brutality.

Technically, the Blu-ray presents a few challenges. The image and sound quality are not pristine, reflective of the period and available technology during the original recording. However, this is mitigated by a range of valuable supplements included in the release. These extras offer important context, enhancing the viewing experience and ensuring that the film's educational value is retained. The historical significance of "Hiroshima" far outweighs any minor technical shortcomings, making this release a vital addition for historians and movie enthusiasts alike.

It's just one of those inexplicable coincidences that this film should have appeared in my queue the day before the 75th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, meaning that the writing of this review served as a remembrance of sorts for me on the actual day the bombing took place. One of the kind of interesting pieces of military memorabilia I inherited from my World War II veteran father was a set of preliminary plans for a Normandy-like invasion of Japan from the sea, and I've long wondered what might have happened had that strategy been pursued rather than the devastation wrought by the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and then Nagasaki. Hiroshima is a fascinating historical document that should certainly be of interest for those who want to see a uniquely Japanese response to the bombing, especially within the context of 1953 shortly after the official American occupation had ended, and Japanese filmmakers perhaps felt more free to express some long-repressed emotions. Technical merits have a few challenges here, but the historical importance of the film as well as some really well-done supplements help to make up for that. Recommended.