Oppenheimer set for release in Japan; critics say ‘film made to validate that atomic bomb was used to save American lives’ | – Times of India

Christopher Nolan‘s Oscar-winning film ‘Oppenheimer‘ is finally set for its release in Japan.
The movie, featuring an ensemble cast including Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr, and Emily Blunt, is set to hit theatres in Japan on March 29, 2024, more than 8 months after its global debut in 2023.
Ahead of its release, the filmmakers have unveiled a new poster, strategically depicting Cillian Murphy standing in front of the bomb tower.This alteration appears to be a deliberate move to avoid controversy, as the original posters featured the protagonist amidst the aftermath of an exploding atom bomb.In preparation for the film’s launch, a preview screening and panel discussion were held in Hiroshima, one of the two cities targeted by atomic bombs during World War II. Former Hiroshima Mayor Takashi Hiraoka expressed his disappointment with the film, criticizing its portrayal for seemingly validating the use of the bombs.
“The film was made in a way to validate the conclusion that the atomic bomb was used to save the lives of Americans,” Hiraoka was quoted saying at the event. He served as Hiroshima’s mayor from 1991 to 1999.

Another panellist, Tatsuya Mori, 67, a highly regarded independent documentary filmmaker, expressed his understanding of Nolan’s decision not to include explicit imagery of the bombed cities. Instead, the film focuses on the repercussions of Oppenheimer’s actions in a climax scene saying, The film approaches how tragic and brutal nuclear war is indirectly, without showing any footage, which may be less spectacular for an audience, but when it does reach out to their hearts, the impact is powerful. It’s not just a matter of showing scenes of Hiroshima and Nagasaki or not.”
The event was also attended by 110 high school and college students. At the screening, Yuta Sakata, a third-year student shared his thoughts about the film and said that while there was no denying a conspicuous absence of images of the bombed-out cities, he expressed his wish for audiences to “do their own research to find out what unfolded in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.”

Meanwhile, at the box office, ‘Oppenheimer’ crossed $ 963 Million mark at the worldwide box office. The movie has now surpassed ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End’ and ‘The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies’ to become the 59th highest-grossing movie of all time.
The film is also the highest-earning film to win Best Picture at the Oscars. The movie won a total of 7 Oscars, including for Best Actor, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor.