White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (HBO)

About White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (HBO)

"White Light/Black Rain: The Destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki" is a bold and comprehensive documentary film directed by Steven Okazaki. The film was released in 2007 by HBO. It provides a moving and horrifying look at the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, presenting the tragic event through the eyes of the survivors, American servicemen, and scholars. It also reveals letters and diaries to narrate the terrifying ordeal.

Making / Production

This riveting documentary was created using in-depth interviews and archival footage, along with colorized black and white photos from the era. To portray the fullest picture of the nuclear bombings and their impact, the production team spent considerable time compiling survivor testimonies and hitherto unseen archival imagery and documentation.

Actors

• Shinji Mikamo as Himself - Survivor: Shinji Mikamo provides a raw and intimate account of his experience during the bombing and its aftermath.
• Mike Nakamura as Himself - Survivor: Mike Nakamura gives a shocking firsthand account of what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
• Shiho Ishikura as Yoko - She provided the voiceover for the survivor's diaries, adding an emotional touch to the narrative.
• Yoshie Nii as Michiko - Narrating the experiences of Hiroshima victims, Yoshie added more depth to the documentary.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• This film marks one of the few times American audiences get to see the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from the perspective of the people who experienced it.
• The documentary includes heartbreaking drawings made by the survivors depicting their memories of the day.
• The title of the film comes from the extreme visual contrasts produced by a nuclear explosion.

Awards

The film has won the "Founder's Prize" at the Traverse City Film Festival and was also nominated for an "Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming".

Quotes

• "The heat was so intense that it melted my uniform to my skin."
• "Their shadows were scorched into the pavement."
• "Silence was the only sound after the explosion."

Music, Soundtrack

• The music used in the film was original and specifically composed for this project by Mark Adler, adding depth and emotion to the narrative.