In this Corner of the World (Japan, 2016)

This film is a little unusual for us in the International Film Festival Meetup. However, it is appropriate for today, as a commemoration of the bombing of Hiroshima. It is also a classic example Japanese anime. So today we immerse ourselves in the Japanese experience of suffering a nuclear attack, The film won Best Film Award at the LA Film Festival in 2017. In This Corner of the World tells the story of Suzu, a spirited 18-year-old woman is married off to a man she barely knows. She moves to the small town of Kure, the port of Hiroshima to live with her husband’s family. Suzu’s life is thrown into chaos when her town is bombed during World War II. Her perseverance and courage, however, underpin this heart-warming and inspirational tale of the everyday challenges faced by the Japanese in the midst of a violent, war-torn country. The film focuses on the everyday aspects of Suzu’s life, and as the war increasingly intrudes into her world, Suzu uses her artistic talents to provide herself (and the audience) with moments of fantasy and escape from those harsh realities. In This Corner of the World film reminds us of the horrors of this day, the resilience and courage of the survivors and the reasons why it must never happen again. A Must see for those concerned for peace.