The sequel to Barefoot Gen could never be the heavy, disturbing, and heartbreaking rollercoaster of the original. Picking up where the last film left off, Barefoot Gen 2 continues Gen and family’s days after the bomb dropping on Hiroshima. The lighthearted initial tone feels weird, almost like a sort of “very special episode” kind of presentation, in my opinion. However, the film does still wish to grapple with the realities of life after the bomb, detailing the aftereffects of the disease that followed, the rise of homelessness, and the continued American presence in Japan. As the health of Gen’s mother continues to decline, these moments weigh on the viewer. However, Gen continues to stay steadfast and maintain a positive attitude, remembering what his parents told him that they wished for him as he grows. Joy in times of plight is a radical act - a much sorely needed reminder no matter what is happening - and Gen’s treatment of others and the way he strives forward, and genuinely so, is a reminder of that.

The sequel to Barefoot Gen could never be the heavy, disturbing, and heartbreaking rollercoaster of the original. Picking up where the last film left off, Barefoot Gen 2 continues Gen and family’s days after the bomb dropping on Hiroshima. The lighthearted initial tone feels weird, almost like a sort of “very special episode” kind of presentation, in my opinion. However, the film does still wish to grapple with the realities of life after the bomb, detailing the aftereffects of the disease that followed, the rise of homelessness, and the continued American presence in Japan. As the health of Gen’s mother continues to decline, these moments weigh on the viewer. However, Gen continues to stay steadfast and maintain a positive attitude, remembering what his parents told him that they wished for him as he grows. Joy in times of plight is a radical act - a much sorely needed reminder no matter what is happening - and Gen’s treatment of others and the way he strives forward, and genuinely so, is a reminder of that.