ABC Film Challenge – World Cinema – Y – Fukushima (2020)
Fukushima is under Y because of lead character named Yoshi.
Director: Setsuro Wakamatsu
Writer: Yoichi Meakawa (Screenplay) Ryusho Kadota (Book)
Starring: Ken Watanabe, Takumi Saitoh, Yasuko Tomita, Mark Chinnery, Tomoro Taguchi, Koichi Sato
Plot: Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi facility in Japan risk their lives and stay at the nuclear power plant. To prevent total destruction after the region is devastated by an earthquake a tsunami in 2011.
Runtime: 2 Hours 2 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Fukushima starts when the earthquakes off the coast of Japan. Causing the tsunami to strike the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility. Knowing the new state of emergency this has caused Masao Yoshida (Watanabe) takes control. Controlling the link between the men on site and the rest of the world. His friend and co-worker Toshio Izaki (Sato) needing to find a solution to the rising radiation levels on site. While Prime Minister (Sano) wants answers.
As the tensions between the three sides continue to raise. The evacuation process in operation. Toshio is left with he impossible decision of needing to see his men give up their lives. In a suicide squad mission to try to save as many people as possible.
Thoughts on Fukushima
Fukushima is one of the modern day disasters the world witness the horrors of. Seeing, waiting and hoping for the best. Knowing not everything is going to end well. Much like the drama of Chernobyl. We get to experience from the ground what the conditions were like. Even if we have improved planning for such a disaster.
The mixed in Japanese culture of sacrifice for the greatest good shines through. Showing us just how much these men and women would have put on the line. To save as many as they could. The film never manages to drop the intensity of the situation. Keeping the three key areas the centre stage of what is happening. Showing us just how prepared for the disaster the employees were.
The performances in the film are brilliant. Ken Watanabe leading the way of the biggest global names. In what is an incredible story of the heroic actions performed.
Final Thoughts – Fukushima is a brilliant look at the heroics performed to save millions.
