shohei imamauras black rain released  onset aids epidemic fact gives film slow deterioration hiroshima radiation victims added poignancy black rain title refers combination ash radioactive fallout water fell one two hours explosion books films dropping atomic bomb none unique powerful one based novel masuji ibuse gathered information interviews diaries reallife bomb victims film depicts entire family affected psychologically well physically bomb years original explosion horrifying vision one resonates deep compassion humanity br br the film begins hiroshima august   soldiers civilians go normal daily activities suddenly blinding light flashes thunderous blast heard almost every single building destroyed damaged beyond repair first atomic bomb ever dropped city part history survivors must somehow restart lives unaware bombs devastating effects filmed highcontrast black white story centers around yasuko yoshiko tanaka young woman caught radioactive rain boat heads back city search friends relatives hiroshima imamura shows us indelible images remain us young boy skin hanging body pleads brother recognize him older man tears inability free son piles debris mother torment rocks blackened body childbr br when family returns rural home yasukos life forever changed sees friends dying around waits inevitable bouts radiation sickness already affected uncle shigematsu shimuza kazuo kitamura aunt shigeko shimuza etsuko ichihara pretending business usual family denies bomb affected yasuko she forgot hiroshima nagasaki destroyed everyone forgot it forget hell fire go rallies like annual festival im sick it says friend katayama akiji kobayashi yasuko internalizes tragedy feeling shame different others guilty contaminatedbr br when aunt uncle try find husband eligible men refuse marry suspicions health even though shigematsu copied diary prove directly exposed bomb suitor feels comfortable another damaged man yuichi keisuke ishida panic attack every time hears roar engine end beauty life shows ever fleetingly yasuko goes pond sees sight longing life king carp jumping water playfully say beyond despair still joy sadly hear radio statements politicians using bomb korean war human beings learn nothing says shigematsu they strangle themselves unjust peace better war justice cant see immamuras black rain hopefully allowed us see clearly