Barefoot Gen 2 (1986) User Reviews

Just in case you forget

[halohamish · 8/10 · 14 September 2008]

After watching Keiji's masterpiece, Barefoot Gen, I was amazed, shocked and touched. The first film truly was incredible and hit harder than any film I can remember seeing. So, naturally, when I went on to watch the second part I was both excited and skeptic. Is it better than the first? Certainly not, and I think we can all agree on that. But, does this film still deliver? Absolutely.

Many believe that Barefoot Gen should have been left as it was, and so do I to a certain extent. But at the same time, the second film offers something the first didn't or couldn't - the aftermath. It shows us how Hiroshima was effected long-term by just one decision. It makes sure you don't ever forget what happened that fateful day. While it's all nice to tie loose ends and act like Gen went on continuing to live a happy life at the end of the first part, the fact was and is, he didn't. Keiji wanted you to know how long lasting these effects were, on not only him, but the whole of Hiroshima. Japan didn't just get over this tragedy. Hiroshima had to continue rebuilding its society in its barren and desolate state.

With all this said, there are definitely reason why this film didn't live up to its successor. All the intense emotion and horror captured in the first film just didn't seem to be there this time around. Things seem a little toned down and by the end of the film, your pretty tired of it all, as you feel you got the idea, the message, Keiji was trying to get across long ago. Regardless, I still very much enjoyed this sequel and it's one of the much better ones you will see.

Hamish Kearvell A.K.A Screaming Japan Productions - www.myspace.com/screamingjapanproductions

Worthy A-bomb sequel

[darren shan · 8/10 · 15 May 2007]

This sequel to the powerful "Barefoot Gen" picks up about 3 years after the events recounted in the first movie. In that film, young Gen and his mother survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in WWII, but lost the rest of their family in the process, and were forced to endure the horrific after-effects of one of mankind's most shameful atrocities. Despite pulling no punches, and detailing the horrors of the bombing in painful detail, the film ended on a positive note, with Gen gaining an honorary little brother, and looking forward to the future with at least a tad of hope.

In the sequel, an older Gen and his feisty sidekick struggle to keep afloat in the lean years after the war. His mother is suffering from radiation poisoning, food and medicine are hard to come by, American troops are strolling around and resented by many, and gangs of orphans roam the streets and shelter in the ruins of buildings. Gen ends up becoming involved with one of the street groups, and the film charts his joys and sorrows.

While it doesn't hit the emotional heights of the first film, this is much better than I was expecting, and is definitely worth a look. The pair make for a fine double-feature.

Renewed hope... eventually.

[garethcrook · 7/10 · 21 July 2019]

Watching this and it's predecessor in quick succession, it'll be hard to separate these two films in my mind, such is the continuation of the story. Here we find Gen three years on from the Hiroshima bomb, still trying to survive as the country attempts to find its feet. Food is scarce, people are still dying. The enemy here is clearly the US "Yankee's" and their bomb, unlike the first film where at least joint responsibility was firmly pointed at the Japanese government who took them to war. It's very much the message of innocent civilians that get tangled in the wars dictated by those in power. This doesn't have the brutal punch of the first film, it's more of a slow skewering as radiation poisoning takes hold and the realisation that this was no ordinary bomb. In general it does feel more positive, maybe partly due the ridiculously positive music, whoever was directing the music on this loves a good singalong, but it's still about losing loved ones and struggling to survive in a home that's become a wasteland. Trying to find income, food, shelter, medicine and learning to start anew, with new friends, new family and renewed hope.

Aftermath

[pockenfresse · 10/10 · 13 August 2007]

Yes, Barefoot Gen 1 is a fantastic movie, no doubts allowed;-). As far as I can remember, there's only one Sequel to any movie I saw that was better than its predecessor: Babe: Pig in the City. Okay, and now there are two. I watched both parts of Barefoot Gen in a row. Of course part 1 stands as one, if not the strongest anti-war movie that ever was created, but there's more: the tragedy afterwards. Those who died more or less immediately after the detonation were the lucky ones, while those who suffered had the real hell on earth. I watched 'Grave of the Fireflys' before 'Barefoot Gen 1 & 2', and after watching 'Grave...' I checked Wiki on Hiroshima, the damage, the aftermath, how it looked like and so on, and there was the story of a girl, 12-year old Sadako Sasaki, who survived the bomb, but died from leukemia in 1955. Need I say more?

Heartbreaking like the first movie

[Irishchatter · 9/10 · 16 February 2019]

I saw the first movie last July gone by and I was in tears for a week after watching it. I was going to watch the sequel then but I felt so sad after watching the first one, I just wasn't ready to continue. Normally I would go straight into watching the sequel of a fantastic movie but I had to give myself time until I am ready to give it a go. I'm not normally a crybaby but oh boy, Barefoot Gen was the one that made me cry lol!

I was glad I got to finally see the films sequel today and give my proper thoughts on it. There were such huge differences between the first movie and the sequel like Gen is now a deep voice teen, his hair grew back and Gens mother dying from the bomb radiation 3 years later.

The 3 scenes that hit me the most with this sequel were: 1. Gens mother dying:- it honestly made me feel so helpless as a viewer to see her suffering from radiation poisoning and always collapsing every so often. At least she brought up a good son to carry her when she definitely needed it. Breaked me heart into millions of pieces when she died and Gen saying "You're so much lighter now Mother" when he carried her ashes. I cannot imagine how children back at that time coped with not having parents around. 2. Street children being physically abused on the streets:- it's cruel that the adults on the streets wouldn't even adopted the children who are without parents, I mean every child deserves a parent or parents in their lives. I mean the kids had no one to go to! Luckily Gen had a mother to look after him through teenhood but that doesn't mean it wasn't young enough to lose her! 3. American soldiers dumping skeletons: I was literally mortified by this scene because I can tell how angry the Japanese were when their loved ones bones were being trampled on by the ones who were the ultimate culprits to bomb innocent Japanese people. I was glad to see Gen and Ryouta were pissing them off like they honestly deserved to be made fun at. 4. The old man:- I felt so sorry for the old man that he was the only survivor from the bomb and that he was waiting for his death to come. My heart melted when Gen and the kids invited him along to be part of their group. You just wanted to give the old man a hug like it was a inhumane thing to do to innocent folk.

We must not forget the innocent men, women and children who died before and after the war.

The aftermath..

[JWick23 · 29 January 2021]

A respectable movie compared to its predecessor. The story was well done for the most part with one or two minor flaws. A plot not too complicated and was easy to understand. The pacing was alright for the most part but a bit too fast. Although we didn't get the same emotional attachtement as much as the original. The animation was pretty much the same as the original but a teeny tiny bit better. We are introduced to new characters who are pretty likable and we'll written for the most part.

Overall an enjoyable sequel with similar levels of tension to that of the predecessor but lacks some originaility and had some reused elements.

Memorable: No Rewatchable: Unlikely..