oppenheimer, The Oscar-winning drama about the leading scientists behind the creation of the atomic bomb finally began showing in Japan on Friday.
Signs were reportedly posted in some theaters warning that the film could be traumatic for Japanese audiences because of its references to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Oppenheimer, Directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Cillian Murphy in the title role. most admired It won the Best Film of the Year award at the Academy Awards on March 10th. box office giantThis is especially notable for a dialogue-heavy three-hour movie in which no one jumps through skyscrapers.
Cillian Murphy’s scene from Oppenheimer. (Universal Pictures via AP)
The mega-movie finally landed in Japan, usually a big market for Hollywood movies, but Japan was reluctant to release a film that could stir up the national trauma of dropping the atomic bomb.
oppenheimer Although the bombing is not actually depicted, it is hinted at with some disturbing imagery to show how conflicted the title character is about his role in the creation of the ultimate weapon. It’s hard to imagine how a film about the Manhattan Project could approach the subject of Hiroshima more subtly.
Some theaters in Tokyo clearly decided that more consideration was needed. Posted signs Outside the theater door, the film does not depict the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but it does detail the Trinity atomic bomb test, which upset Japanese audiences more than most others. warned that it could cause
Some Japanese viewers were more upset than Nolan do not have The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are shown in graphic detail.
“There should have been more explanations and depictions of the horrors of nuclear weapons. From Hiroshima’s perspective, there wasn’t enough about the horrors of nuclear weapons, but I encourage you to go see it.” Said Takashi Kiraoka (96), former mayor of Hiroshima.
“I was waiting for the scene of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima to appear, but it never appeared. In order to achieve a future free of nuclear weapons, it is important to reveal the full story, including the victims. ” said Toshiyuki Mimaki, 82, an atomic bomb survivor.
[OnAugust61945amushroomcloudbillowsoverHiroshimaJapanaboutanhourafteranuclearbombexplodes(APPhoto/USArmyviaHiroshimaPeaceMemorialMuseum)[1945年8月6日、日本の広島上空で核爆弾が爆発してから約1時間後にうねるキノコ雲。（AP写真/米軍、広島平和記念資料館経由）
Another reason for the delay in opening in Japan was Oppenheimer, This included humorous pairings with disparate blockbuster movies released around the same time. Barbie. The American people seem to have discovered that endlessly interesting With two such different movies set to be released together, the studio leaned into those goofy memes to promote both films.
Japanese people weren’t funny.warner bros japan I apologized Addressing the Japanese public regarding Japan’s “insensitive social media involvement” in August:
We believe it is extremely regrettable that the official account of the American headquarters of the movie “Barbie” responded to a social media post by a “Babenheimer” fan. We take this situation very seriously. We are asking our US headquarters to take appropriate action. We apologize to those who were offended by this series of inconsiderate reactions.
The most troubling example of this marketing was the fan art posters for the two films depicting Barbie riding on Oppenheimer’s shoulders with an apparent mushroom cloud in the background. Warner Bros.’ U.S. Twitter account retweeted the image with the comment, “This will be a summer to remember.” Japanese social media users were outraged by the frivolity, accusing the studio of trivializing the dropping of the atomic bomb.
The movies “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” will be shown in the Marquee of Los Feliz Theater on July 28, 2023 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
now oppenheimer ‘ has finally been screened in Japan, and audiences generally seem to like it, with some Japanese viewers still questioning the handling of the bombing immediately appreciating Nolan’s craftsmanship and Murphy’s Some praised his acting. This included Hiroshima viewers old enough to remember August 6, 1945, or born after that terrible day, such as former Mayor Kiraoka.
“The film was very worth watching, but some scenes, such as the Oppenheimer trial in America at the end, made me very uncomfortable.” Said Agemi Kanegae is 65 years old from Hiroshima City.
“I thought the film’s lack of depictions of atomic bomb survivors was a weakness. But in fact, Oppenheimer’s lines in dozens of scenes show his shock at the reality of the bombing. That was enough for me,” said Professor Masao Tomonaga, an atomic bomb survivor and honorary director of the Japanese Red Cross Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Hospital.
A scene from “Oppenheimer” (Universal Pictures)
One of the most interesting reactions came from director Takashi Yamazaki, who won an Oscar on the same night as Nolan. godzilla minus one.
Director Yamazaki told Nolan online that he was “interested in providing an answer from Japan.” Oppenheimer.”
It would be an easy joke to say that Godzilla was already doing this, since American atomic bomb testing caused Godzilla to grow to a gigantic size. godzilla minus one That aspect of this monster’s lore is kept to a minimum. This story is really about Japan’s war crimes and its people trying to rebuild their lives shattered in the aftermath of the conflict. Nolan said he was very supportive of Yamazaki’s decision to tell the story of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from a Japanese perspective without including a giant lizard.
Ironically, even though Japan has finally come to understand this, Oppenheimer, Almost impossible for Americans to see godzilla minus one — Although the film did incredibly well at the American box office during its limited run, not available It has been released in theaters, with no U.S. streaming release date set, apparently due to a contractual agreement between Japan’s Toho Studios and the producers of American “MonsterVerse” films featuring Godzilla. Seem.
