Barefoot Gen Movie Review Examples

This film depicts the suffering that followed the bombing of Hiroshima. Analyzing the people and situations that Gen comes across, it is evident that the Japan citizens suffered a lot. It feels one with pity to see the dead bodies of the victims and the continued deaths that occur along the way in the hope of sooner recovery.
The fact that Gen is rejected and criticized in every family, social and cultural setting that he and his mother attempt to establish themselves indicates that their suffering is widespread and social and political lives have been affected massively. Throughout the film, there is harsh evidence of the themes of loyalty, resistance, power and hegemony.
Every family just like Gen’s suffers due to the war. His family is treated as traitors when his father shares the perspective that the war is as a result of the greedy ruling class. His family has to struggle to recover loyalty especially when his elder brother forces his way in to the army. The government supports the issue of sending teenagers to the army. All this are consequences that had not been predicted and change only comes along when Japan surrender to America.
For as much, as there is a lot of mistreatment, harshness, harassment and undesirable circumstances, the movie depicts hope. To begin with, Daikichi who is Gen’s father tells the family members to live like wheat. Under this, he means that wheat will always try and attempt to grow strong regardless of whatever may tread on them. The same happens when Natsue attempts to commit suicide but is convinced by Gen that there is life even after the burns she has sustained. Lastly, hope is depicted Seiji who had abandoned his artistic skills is motivated by Gen not to give up and attempts to paint using his teeth until his death.