Hiroshima Mon Amour
1959
***½
Director: Alain Resnais
Cast: Emmanuelle Riva, Eiji Okada, Bernard Fresson, Stella Dassas, Pierre Barbaud
A French actress and a Japanese architect have a brief but passionate encounter in post-war Hiroshima. During these 24 hours, the two share their painful memories and losses. Along with Jean-Luc Godard's Breathless and Francois Truffaut's 400 Blows, this romantic drama is one of the key works of the French New Wave. The film is poignant but heavy on dialogue. Alain Resnais's use of brief flashbacks still feels fresh and innovative. Emmanuelle Riva gives a strong lead performance.
