Hiroshima Mon Amour

Alain Resnais – France, Japan 1959 – 90 minutes – spoken language: French, English, Japanese, with English subtitles

In this classic post-war film, the magnitude of the global and the political are transformed into a tender exploration of the personal and intimate. Made half a century ago, Alain Resnais’ debut film lets us in on intensely personal encounters between lovers as they face the aftermath of great power clashes. How this has impacted them both is at the centre of their painful love story.

In slightly more than a 24-hour period, an unnamed French actress (Emmanuelle Riva) and a Japanese architect (Eiji Okada), share their humanity in what is a fluid absorption into each other’s heartaches. With subtle recollections, the film melts their personal pasts. It is a monumental cinematographic achievement which bears witness to deeply personal ways of relating to the unimaginable powers shaping the world.

This screening is part of the Studium Generale programme ‘New World Order”, see wur.nl/studiumgenerale. Free entrance for WUR-card holders. WUR-card holders can reserve above under ’10-zittenkaart’.