Barefoot Gen is a movie that I would say is good but would never recommend to anybody. This movie was absolutely heartwrenching as it depicts the brutal realities of the war.
Barefoot Gen follows Gen and his family in the midst of World War II. The year is 1945, meaning the viewer knows the end of the war is near. What made this movie so hard to watch is how the viewer knew the bomb was coming. Suspense is built up as the characters comment on the war. For example, Gen states “They never drop bombs on us. We’re too boring,” while his father comments that it’s weird that their city hasn’t been attacked unlike the other major cities around them. Gen’s comment not only reflects his point of view as a child during the war, but also foreshadows the violence yet to come.
The bomb is dropped around the 30 minute mark, or almost halfway into the movie. The movie goes silent as the flash depicts the bomb being dropped. Then, a montage of citizens being literally ripped apart and melted is shown. I didn’t expect this level of carnage to be shown, but it was so shocking I had to pause the movie for a bit. No one was safe, even children and babies were shown getting decimated by the bomb.
There were several quotes throughout the movie that were particularly hard-hitting for me.
The first one is “I’d like to know if we’ll ever have enough food.” This was said before the bomb was dropped, but it reflects the living conditions that many in Japan were living in prior to bomb. Parents had to hide their worry as their children went hungry, knowing that there wasn’t anything they could do to help them.
Another quote is said by Gen’s dad, after Gen asks him why they keep fighting in the war. He states “Because this country is ran by madmen,’ and adding, “Sometimes it takes more courage not to fight than to fight, to not want to kill when all around you are calling out for blood." His quote is explicitly anti-war, as it expresses that the many citizens do not support the war effort, but would be labeled as cowards or traitors if they stated that outright. It also brings up the point of who is the most affected by the war. The rich and powerful wage the war, but it is the common man who must fight it.
Another quote from the movie is when Kimei, or Gen’s mom, raises Tomoko and shows her their city burning, telling her “This is the war that killed your father. Remember it.” This quote shows how the violence depicted in the war won’t stop right after Japan surrenders, but will have lasting effects and cause generational trauma. Gen also states, “Is it possible that one bomb could have done all of this?” Not only is he referring to the immediate aftermath, but the radiation and destruction that would last for many years after.
Finally, the last quote that stood out is said by Gen’s mother. After being told that the Japanese army finally surrendered, she cries out, “Tell me, why now? Why not before?” The Japanese government was warned about the second bombing, but ignored it and tries to report as little as possible on the destruction of Hiroshima. Days later, the second bomb was dropped. How much carnage could have been avoided if they had heeded America’s warning?
The movie does end on an optimistic note, with Gen’s hair and the wheat growing. I also liked how the movie showed people coming together, rather than pitting them against each other for survival; for example, a woman helped feed Tomoko, even after she threatened her. And, of course, Ryuta and Gen help a sick man find his purpose again, telling him to never give up.
