History of World War II: Hiroshima film
This is a dramatized documentary film of BBC that incorporates reenactments meant to tell the analytical history behind Hiroshima atomic bombing. Following the direct reports from eye witnesses with visuals generated through the application of the computer on the terrifying explosion, the documentary recounts the ever first nuclear strike with an investigation of an alarming consequence. The presentation of a three week period from the trinity test to the final drop of the bomb with an aircraft referred to as “Enola Gay” in the area of Hiroshima the chronicles of the BBC documentary reflect the political gamble in the United States with the preparation of a historical event.
The documentary film reflects the 20th century defining moments inclusive of technological, scientific, political and military gamble involving first atomic attack. This set documentary makes attempts of introducing what other produced films have never utilized. This means reflecting on what it entails to survive following a nuclear explosion. The BBC documentary set in a span of three weeks, following a tests explosion carried out in Mexico to the final drop of the nuclear bomb. The action involved in the documentary drives viewers’ attention into a reflection of made crucial political decisions, the Enola Gay craft en route to Hiroshima, the event of explosion and the Hiroshima streets.
It entails a combination of historical footage, dramatization and interviews involving eyewitnesses with an alternation of the film between dramatic reactions and footage of documentary. Majorly, the original film footage and the involved dramatizations are presentable as images of sepia-tone. This serves in the blurring of the specified distinction involved. The documentary languages are Japanese and English with the utilization of subtitles and the majority of the leading actors being Japanese and Canadians.
During the World War II final stages in the year 1945, the United States carried out two atomic bomb attacks against Nagasaki and Hiroshima cities subsequently. For over six months, the United States has utilized intense, strategic bombings on Japanese cities. Following the ignorance of Japan to accept an offered ultimatum of surrendering, President Harry S. Truman gave an executive order for the bomb weapon drop on Hiroshima city with a successive following of another detonation over Nagasaki. The documentary film considers Hiroshima as the prime target with considerable military significance having second headquarters of Japans army. The centre was also the core area for depot storage and communication.
The documentary film indicates the figurative aspects involving the number of victims who succumbed to the attacks. The estimations made following interviews with some of the survivors show that 60% succumbed to flame burns. The other 30% succumbed from the debris that was falling and 10% succumbing to other related causes. The majority dies the following months because of radiation sickness and burns effects with compounded illness. The majority of the victims who succumbed to the atomic bombing were civilians. The documentary film indicates of Japan’s surrender to its allied powers with the signing of the surrender instrument following officially to mark an end to the World War II. The bombings covered by the documentary film in part constituted the post-war Japan’s adoption of the three principles. These principles were relating to Non-Nuclear activities hence these forbids the nation to access nuclear armament. The film justifies the role of successive bombings in Japan with a subsequent surrender and the ethical justification of the United States inclusive of strategically significance debated.
The film took three weeks and made public on 5th of August 2005. The director and producer of the film is Paul Wilmshurst. The film won three BEFTA awards and an Emmy award in the year 2006. History of World War II: Hiroshima film is a docudrama of the BBC that captured the attention of viewers following its premier as a special program on television on the 5th of August 2005 as a remarkable 60th anniversary commemoration. Airing of the documentary film on the United States discovery channel followed soon. The film features reenactments of history with firsthand accounts of witnesses with imagery generated through computer on the explosion.
The interviews carried out in the wake of the documentary film involved five Japanese who survived. This includes the communication hospital nurse, Kinuko Laskey, a Japanese army cadet, Morio Ozaki, a tram driver aged 16 years old, Toruko Fujii, a pupil aged eight years old. Others are Thomas Takashi Tanemori, a city bank clerk aged 17 year old, Akiko Takakura and the doctor at the military hospital, Dr. Shuntaro Hida. The interviewees from the United States involved the Enola Gay pilot as the commanding officer, Paul Tibbets, the aircraft navigator, Theodore Van Kirk, the officer responsible for testing the weapon, Morris R. Jeppson and the photographic aircraft-accompanying navigator, Russell Gackenbach. The duty officer responsible in the Whitehouse map room, George Elsev is the eyewitness interviewed to Potsdam Conference.
Summary of the film
The film recounts and examines repercussions of the world’s first chief atomic bombing. It covers a consistent three-week phase form the atomic bomb test to the final bombing of the city of Hiroshima. The program subsequently chronicles the gamble politically of America with plans for considerable momentous event. The documentary involves dramatizations as an archival film with remarkable effects depicting the actual actions aboard the craft referred to as Enola Gay and the process of the blast and final repercussions.
Stylistic and technical aspects in the film
The documentary film has an exceptional style standing out throughout hence drawing out the major theme. Flashback as an aspect of style enables the relaying of the events inclusive of the test explosion that took place in New Mexico to event of bomb dropping. The subsequent action relayed through the flashback element draws viewers into the point of considering where the central political resolutions took place. The navigator, commanding officer and the officer bearing the responsibility of testing the bomb on board the craft referred to as Enola Gay; inside the scene of bomb explosion and the aftermath; and on the following Hiroshima streets under destruction. Technical quality in general was incredibly good from all aspects. The pictures, interview mixed with definite footage and re-enactments made the documentary has a realistic feeling.