in the light of the recent typhoon that hit the country hard ( that be and typhoon ondoy ) and i think it upon myself to re watch black rain ( 1988 and japan ) and shohei imamura haunt black and white masterpiece on the destruction and after effect of the atomic bomb that hit hiroshima in the closing period of the second world war . the destruction and impact of both catastrophe ( war and typhoon ) may differ in degree and quality and but the trauma and scar ( physically and psychologically ) nevertheless be still there . it be a testament to a film power that it image remain a potent and as indelible a when they be first see . it be only that the difference now and in my case and be that watch those image have assume a great sense of poignancy and potency due to a first hand experience of a near monumental weather calamity . there be a sense of kinship and so to speak . imamura have always be one of my favorite japanese filmmaker . his film be always a pleasure to watch because of their anarchy and sensuality and earthiness representthe pornographer representintroduction to anthropology ( 1966 ) and eijanaika ( 1981 ) and warm water under a red bridge ( 2001 ) and his two palme dor winner ballad of narayama ( 1983 ) and the eel ( 1997 ) and to name some . give the mood of his film and who would have think that he once serve a an assistant director to yasujiro ozu and japanese cinema most austere and minimalist filmmaker . but then and it be ozu rigorous formality and domesticity that imamura be rebel against . but then again and with black rain one can unmistakably sense ozu imprint . the father ( or the father figure ) be intent on see his daughter get marry before time run out on both of them and and the stillness and calmness of the scene show all member of the family together ( notably and the dinner scene or in ozu film lexicon and the tatami ) be something that the revered master filmmaker would perennially explore in his work ( tokyo story and late spring ) . essentially and the over all subdue and deliberate quality of black rain be a remarkable contrast to the bacchanalian chaos and instinctual drive of imamura entire filmography . still and this be not to say that watch the film would not be an altogether unsettling experience . black rain and a aptly describe by american film reviewer leonard maltin and be fill with haunt black and white image . in the film first 15 minute and imamura pull no punch in show the immediate and graphic horror of the nuclear bombing and one after another ( stiffly burnt body and hang flesh and walk dead and fire and debris everywhere and madness all over ) . an assault to the viewer sens and definitely it be and couple with takashi kawamata somber b or w photography ( he do the lensing in yoshitaru nomura crime drama the incident ) and toru takemitsu chill score ( he do the music in such classic a akira kurosawa ran and masahiro shinoda double suicide ) . even during the film suppose tranquil phase ( that be and five year after the atomic bombing ) and one can still never have a sense of contentment and order and with the uneasiness and pain still be strongly felt by the survivor and not only in term of fail physical health and but more so in term of psychological trauma and social stigma . the human race and it now indisputably appear and have be destine to bear the legacy of the bomb and for as long a it live . i already write a piece about black rain some year earlier ( post in imdb . com ) and but only in comparison to volker schlondorff magnificent tin drum and another film deal with monumental human folly and global catastrophe . moreover and it have never be my practice to write twice about a film that i already write something about before . it be in the light of the recent weather calamity that devastate our country that i be prompt to re visit and write something again about this remarkable imamura film and a there be a wealth of lesson to be learn from both the film and the recent event in regard the imperfection and danger of scientific knowledge and action and and the long term scar and wound inflict by a wide scale destruction ( whether human or nature induce ) . there have be a number of film deal with nuclear holocaust and destruction ( testament and thread and the war game and each situate within their own respective country ) while and black rain stand among them and if not more so and for both it unapologetic and somber portrayal of individual and communal disintegration bring about by atomic devastation and the fact that it have a historical event a it basis . few week from now and another disaster film from hollywood and roland emmerich 2012 and will finally hit ( no pun intend ) the big screen . a we all know and this american director bunch of disaster or apocalypse film independence day and godzilla and the day after tomorrow serve no other purpose than to be of mere entertainment value and with no real insight into the nature and wisdom of apocalyptic disaster and the human condition be affect . i wonder how this gigantic movie would exploit the trauma and disorientation and apprehension still be experience by our people because of the recent weather calamity . to say that this flick be a precautionary tale would probably be no more than an overstatement . but yes and i will still watch 2012 .