Review of Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959) by Toronto D — 25 Nov 2009

If you take this as just a simple love affair between a foreign tourist and a local, this is already a decent movie, but with Resnais you know there are several other layers beneath the surface. Gradually the two lovers become a metaphor for humanity itself, especially in the context of the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima, which is the indirect subject of the film.

Resnais has an unique style that can throw a viewer into utter confusion, with his cryptic dialog, or his famous leaps through time and space. But these devices are not just silly stunts. Once you catch on, the reward is yet another layer to the film.

This masterpiece is an example of film as a true art form - in fact the DVD booklet begins with Eric Rohmer's quote that labels this film as perhaps being "The first modern film of sound cinema". Every shot is spectacular, every performance is perfect and even the score is terrific. Like The Rules of the Game or Citizen Kane, the story is simple enough, but merely serves as a frame for the brilliant technique and deeper themes contained within.