Watch Hiroshima Mon Amour

Hiroshima Mon Amour is a French-Japanese drama film released in 1959 directed by Alain Resnais. It is a story of two people – a French actress (played by Emmanuelle Riva) and a Japanese architect (played by Eiji Okada) – who meet in Hiroshima and get into a passionate affair. The film tells their memories, desires, and regrets interwoven with the atomic bombing of the city during World War II.

The film's opening sequence starts with an intimate scene between the actress and the architect, where the former speaks of her experience of Hiroshima and how it has left an indelible impression on her mind. The architect, however, claims to have no such memory of the city and says that he was in Tokyo during the bombing. As the film progresses, we get to know more about the couple's past traumas, involving their lovers.

The actress is haunted by her memories of a German soldier whom she fell in love with during the war and who died in the bombing of Nevers. She feels guilty for betraying him by falling in love with another man. On the other hand, the architect is tormented by his memory of a lover, who was ostracized by her family for engaging in a romantic relationship with a foreigner. He is also troubled by the fact that he, as a Japanese man, was not able to protect her from discrimination and prejudice.

The film seamlessly moves back and forth between the couple's present and past, using various techniques such as flashbacks, voiceovers, and sudden shifts in time and place. As the movie progresses, we see the gradual unfolding of their relationship, fragile yet passionate, as they try to come to terms with their past and present.

The film's visual style is absolutely stunning, with Resnais using a mix of black and white and color footage to stunning effect. The cinematography is exquisite, with every frame designed to be a work of art. The film is also known for its impressive editing, which employs jump cuts to create a sense of timelessness and disorientation.

Hiroshima Mon Amour is not just a love story; it also addresses themes of memory, trauma, guilt, and the consequences of war. At the same time, it is also a poignant exploration of the human condition – the way we struggle to overcome our past, to find meaning in our lives, and to make sense of the world around us.

The performances by Emmanuelle Riva and Eiji Okada are absolutely brilliant, imbuing their characters with a depth and complexity that is rare to see on screen. Their chemistry is electric, and their interactions range from tender to explosive, as they try to find a way to bridge the gap between their cultures and their pasts.

Overall, Hiroshima Mon Amour is a beautifully crafted film that is as relevant today as it was when it was first released. It is a masterpiece of world cinema that continues to inspire and move audiences with its eloquence, intimacy, and emotional truthfulness.

Hiroshima Mon Amour is a 1959 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.9.