BLACK RAIN

Japan - 1989 - B&W - 123’

Dir.: Shôhei Imamura | Scr.: Shôhei Imamura, Toshirô Ishidô | Cin.: Takashi Kawamata | Ed.: Hajime Okayasu | Mus.: Tôru Takemitsu | Cast: Yoshiko Tanaka, Kazuo Kitamura, Etsuko Ichihara, Shoichi Ozawa, Norihei Miki, Keisuke Ishida | Prod.: Hisashi Iino

Shohei Imamura's 1989 film "Black Rain", is a haunting, powerful depiction of the aftermath of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, focusing on the devastating social and personal effects on survivors, such as the Shizuma family. Filmed in high black and white contrast, the film uses brutal, realistic depictions of the immediate horrors of the bombing and the subsequent silent discrimination faced by those exposed to the radioactive "black rain." Deviating from any conventional form or stylization, the film powerfully explores themes such as human suffering, social stigma, and the lasting consequences of war, creating a deeply moving, courageous, and ultimately unforgettable statement against nuclear weapons.