THE CHILDREN OF HIROSHIMA

Japan - 1952 - B&W - 97’

Dir.- Scr.: Kaneto Shindō | Cin.: Takeo Itō | Ed.: Zenju Imaizumi | Mus.: Akira Ifukube | Cast: Nobuko Otowa, Osamu Takizawa, Miwa Saitō, Tsuneko Yamanaka | Prod.: Kōzaburō Yoshimura 

The film "The Children of Hiroshima", directed in 1952 by Kaneto Shindo, is based on testimonies from the book "Children of the Atomic Bomb" by Arata Osada. Its plot follows a kindergarten teacher, Takako, who returns to the city, meets her former students and witnesses the devastating, long-term effects of the atomic explosion on their lives. The film highlights the lasting trauma, physical injuries, social exclusion and profound psychological consequences experienced by the bomb's survivors, while it is known for its excellent cinematography and strong, evocative soundtrack. It is the first film to be released under this theme just after the end of the American occupation, during which similar attempts had been censored.