Hadashi no Gen (1983)

A powerful statement against war, Barefoot Gen is a disturbing story about the effect of the atomic bomb on a boy's life and the lives of the Japanese people.

Director:

Mori Masaki

Writers:

Keiji Nakazawa (manga), Keiji Nakazawa

Stars:

Issei Miyazaki, Masaki Kôda, Seiko Nakano

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Issei Miyazaki	...	Gen Nakaoka (voice)
Masaki Kôda	...	Shinji Nakaoka / Ryuta Kondo (voice)
Seiko Nakano	...	Eiko Nakaoka (voice)
Takao Inoue	...	Daikichi Nakaoka (voice)
Yoshie Shimamura	...	Kimie Nakaoka (voice)
Takeshi Aono	...	Hidezo (voice)
Katsuji Mori	...	Seiji Yoshida (voice)
Taeko Nakanishi	...	Hana (voice)
Junji Nishimura	...	Boku Pak (voice)
Kôichi Kitamura	...	(voice)
Kôji Yada	...	(voice)
Yasurô Tanaka	...	(voice)
Ryôichi Tanaka	...	(voice)
Masaharu Satô	...	(voice)
Kyôko Tongû	...	(voice)

Storyline

Gen and his family are living in Hiroshima as Japan nears the end of World War II. Gen's father has come to believe that the war is unwinnable, thus earning the wrath of the town officials and, in turn, discrimination from the rest of their neighbors. Shunned by the local merchants and tradesmen, food becomes scarce for Gen and his family. All these concerns soon pale, however, as the American military begins its final assault on Japan with the unleashing of its terrible new weapon.

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Plot Keywords:

japan | bomb | atomic bomb | boy | barefoot | 

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Taglines:

The Bombing Of Hiroshima As Seen Through The Eyes Of A Boy.

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Genres:

Animation | Drama | War

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Details

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Release Date:

13 June 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Barefoot Gen

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mad House, Gen Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Dolby Digital (DVD Release)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was part of a 1980s cycle of films about atomic bombs and nuclear warfare which had started in 1979 with The China Syndrome. The films included Silkwood, Testament, Threads, WarGames, The Day After, The Atomic Cafe, The Manhattan Project, Whoops Apocalypse, Special Bulletin, Ground Zero, Barefoot Gen (Hadashi no Gen), Rules of Engagement, When the Wind Blows, Letters from a Dead Man (Pisma myortvogo cheloveka), Memoirs of a Survivor and The Chain Reaction.

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Goofs

When Gen and Shinji take a big bite from a sweet potato from each end, they are then told by Eiko to give the sweet potato to their mother. Once the sweet potato is given to her, it is whole again.

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Quotes

Kimie Nakaoka: [desperately looking for someone to feed her baby] Please, isn't there anybody who can help me with just a little milk? My baby's starving.

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Connections

Featured in Hadashi no Gen 2 (1986)

User Reviews

Moving, disturbing, endearing.

You'll be surprised, this is testimony to the power of 'old style' animation, you need more than Computer Generated images to make a great film. Even with it's basic arrangements barefoot gen managed to shock me by its ability to capture all the horror, confusion and devastation delivered by the atomic bomb.

I found this movie informative but disturbing. I have heard it being described as a tragicomedy. I think this is a fitting description but just be prepared because it really does make giant leaps from the genuinely tragic and sad to light heartedness. You won't know whether to laugh or cry. Actually, you will. A little cry would be totally justified so have a hanky at the ready and don't watch it with your mates from down the pub.