I Was There

Hiroshima Bound(en)

A personal documentary that tracks the construction of America's collective memory (or lack of one) of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It follows the obscure histories of specific photos and photographers, both Japanese and American, who visited Nagasaki and Hiroshima in the aftermath of the bombings, counterposing this visual legacy with the stories of survivors, whose practice of speaking to small groups of students offers a modest but powerful counter-history to the official record.

Atomic People(ja)

Combining personal accounts with archive footage, this film features the voices of some of the only people left on earth to have survived a nuclear bomb.

To End All War: Oppenheimer & the Atomic Bomb(en)

Explore how one man's relentless drive and invention of the atomic bomb changed the nature of war forever, led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and unleashed mass hysteria.

Hiroshima, la course vers l'apocalypse(fr)

Hiroshima: The Aftermath(en)

Brand new documentary marking the 70th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings which ended WWII and began the nuclear age. Features interviews with survivors from both sides.

Bombshell(en)

Eighty years after the devastating atomic bombings that ushered in the nuclear age, Bombshell explores how the U.S. government manipulated the narrative about the atomic bombings of the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Through propaganda, censorship and the co-opting of the press, the government presented a benevolent picture of atomic power, minimizing the horrific human toll. Bombshell sheds light on the efforts of a group of intrepid reporters to let the world know the truth.

The World Under the Bombs, from Guernica to Hiroshima(fr)

Beginning with Guernica and the Chinese cities of Chongqing and Shanghai in 1937 and ending with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, World War Two saw a new art of warfare in the form of extensive, worldwide bombing campaigns.

Barefoot Gen(ja)

A story about the effect of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on a boy's life and the lives of the Japanese people.

Whispers from the Core(en)

Under the charred veil of Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Chernobyl, survivors bear treachery's shroud, hunting redemption through a generational silence that shrieks with ghosts of the forgotten.

Ghosts of Hiroshima(en)

The true story of a Japanese man during World War II who survived the atomic blast at Hiroshima, got on a train to Nagasaki, and then survived the nuclear explosion in that city.

La hormiga de Hiroshima(en)

An approximation to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima by experimental animation artist José Castillo.

You Don't Know Jack: A Montford Point Marine(en)

In this compelling short film, we follow the life of a Montford Point Marine as he reflects on his experiences and the challenges he faced as an African American in the Marine Corps. Set against the backdrop of racial segregation and the horrors of war, the film delves into the Marine's journey from the initial days of training to witnessing the devastating aftermath of the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. From Korea to Vietnam, the Marine's resilience and dedication shine through as he recounts his harrowing encounters with death and his unwavering commitment to his fellow soldiers. Through his story, the film sheds light on the often-overlooked contributions of African Americans in the Marine Corps and serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by these unsung heroes. Ultimately, it becomes a powerful testament to the Marine's determination to share his experiences, educate others, and preserve the legacy of African Americans in the military.

Velvet Underground's First Public Appearance(en)

Velvet Underground's first public appearance.

In Between(en)

Footage from 1964-1968 that did not find its way into the Walden reels is joined in this classic period piece. Mostly centered in New York, it also includes travel footage and appearances by David Wise, Salvador Dali, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Smith, Shirley Clarke, Jane Holzer and more. Mel Lyman plays his banjo on the roof.

Notes for Jerome(en)

During the summer of 1966 Jonas Mekas spent two months in Cassis, as a guest of Jerome Hill. Mekas visited him briefly again in 1967, with P. Adams Sitney. The footage of this film comes from those two visits. Later, after Jerome died, Mekas visited his Cassis home in 1974. Footage of that visit constitutes the epilogue of the film. Other people appear in the film, all friends of Jerome.

Paradise Not Yet Lost(en)

The film is arranged in six chronologically-ordered parts, each filmed in a different location during Oona's third year.

Off We Go!(de)

Documentary short on the Octoberfest in Munich.

Scenes from Allen's Last Three Days on Earth as a Spirit(en)

This is a video record of the Buddhist Wake ceremony at Allen Ginsberg's apartment. You see Allen, now asleep forever, in his bed; some of his close friends; and the wrapping up and removal of Allen's body from the apartment. You hear Jonas' description of his last conversation with Allen, three days earlier. You see the final farewell at the Buddhist temple, 118 West 22nd Street, New York City, and some of his close friends: Patti Smith, Gregory Corso, LeRoy Jones-Baraka, Hiro Yamagata, Anne Waldman, and many others.

To Barbara Rubin with Love(en)

This is a mini-portrait of one of the legendary figures of the 60s who should be credited for the discovery of the Velvet Underground, for saving Bob Dylan's mind after the motorcycle crash, for her pioneering sound/image installations, for keeping the New York Sixties' art community together, for one of the key works of erotic cinema Christmas on Earth, and etc. and etc.

Report from Millbrook(en)

Jonas Mekas documents Timothy Leary’s Millbrook estate in the wake of a police raid, juxtaposing serene images of the property with audio of officials justifying their actions. Blending diary footage with subversive reportage, the film exposes the gap between perception and authority, offering an oblique portrait of the counterculture and its suppression.