Film Club at Auditori: Screening and Discussion of Barefoot Gen (Directed by Mori Masaki, 1983)

Film Club at Auditori: Screening and Discussion of Barefoot Gen

(Directed by Mori Masaki, 1983)

August 6 marks the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, followed three days later by the bombing of Nagasaki on August 9. To commemorate these tragic events, we will screen one of the most powerful anti-war animated films ever made — Barefoot Gen, based on the autobiographical manga by Keiji Nakazawa, who survived the Hiroshima bombing as a child.

Barefoot Gen is more than a historical account. It is a profound reflection on the human cost of war, resilience, and the ability to preserve one's humanity in the face of unimaginable tragedy. Despite its difficult subject matter, the film remains a story of life, hope, and the determination to move forward.

Following the screening, we will hold an open discussion exploring the historical context of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, why animation became one of the most powerful mediums for telling this story, and how the author's personal experience evolved into one of the most influential anti-war works of the twentieth century.