In 2023, the movie "Oppenheimer," exploring J. Robert Oppenheimer's life and his role as the father of the atomic bomb, premiered in Japan. It won an Oscar for Best Picture and drew about 230,000 viewers on its opening weekend. The film highlights Oppenheimer's internal conflict regarding the atomic bomb but does not show the aftermath of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. This absence has sparked debate, with some suggesting that depicting the bombings would have more effectively conveyed Oppenheimer’s turmoil . However, others find the indirect approach effective for encouraging reflection on nuclear issues. Sakuma Kunihiko, a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing, recognizes the film's anti-nuclear message and stresses the importance of understanding the true devastation caused by nuclear weapons . He hopes the film will motivate more visits to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, helping people learn from the experiences of the survivors.
Vocabulary :
• premiere (noun): The first public performance or showing of a movie or play.
• sensitive (adj): Likely to cause upset or to need careful handling.
• aftermath (noun): The consequences or after-effects of a significant unpleasant event.
• turmoil (noun): A state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty.
• symposium (noun): A conference or meeting to discuss a particular subject.
• hibakusha (noun): A Japanese term for the surviving victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.