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Does The Atomic Bomb And How Does It Affect The Three Generations?

Decent Essays

Premiering in 1991 under the direction of filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, Rhapsody in August tells the story of an elderly woman named Kane, her children, and her four grandchildren, as they are influenced by the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. One August, Kane’s four grandchildren stay with her as her children pay a visit to a rich man in Hawaii named Suzujiro, who claims to be Kane’s older brother. However, Kane cannot remember him, and she has no intention of going to meet him. Kane’s grandchildren, who at first want her to visit her older brother in Hawaii, slowly begin to understand their grandmother’s reasoning as they spend more time with her. After explaining their grandmother’s circumstances in a letter addressed to Suzujiro’s son Clark, the children are surprised to hear that Clark will plan on visiting Japan. While the children’s parents are upset, thinking that their relationship with their new rich relative is ruined, Clark surprises everyone by being understanding of Kane’s circumstances. Ultimately, Sujuziro passes away before Kane has an …show more content…

By focusing on three generations instead of any particular generation, Kurosawa creates a medium to which multiple groups of people can relate. As time passes, and as fewer and fewer people have experienced August 9, 1945 directly, Kurosawa reminds everyone that the bomb continues to affect people to this day. Kane’s grandchildren are an example of how to remain thoughtful about the bomb and its consequences while not experiencing it firsthand, while Kane’s children are an example of how not to treat the topic of the bomb and its consequences. Ultimately, Kurosawa wants to emphasize that the Japanese should not have to throw away their history in order to survive. Only in doing so can one begin to accept and reflect on the events of the

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