Hiroshima/Nagasaki

I found it interesting how much of the same 'reasoning' was used in deciding to destroy Dresden as was given as the justification for the US to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and then Nagasaki.

Although the historical narrative on our government's (oops, I mean Truman's and Henry Stimson's) decision to drop the bomb has changed over the past 10 years so that more people are aware of the military leaders' opposition (among other troubling facts), it's still common to hear the same line that was fed every history student for about 50 years after the war: "It was necessary to save more lives." Although it's pretty hard to argue for the necessity of Nagasaki's bombing even if you want to support Hiroshima's destruction.

In spite of all the criticism (some of which I agree with), I thought the film did a really commendable job at showing more than one side of the situation. To me, it seemed less concerned with pointing fingers or justifying anyone than it was with 1) being an anti-war movie and 2) remembering those who lost their lives, homes, families, and city in the firebombing. I appreciated that the showed a few interviews with survivors on the DVD. Interesting that Woll's great-aunt was a survivor herself.

Also thought they did a great job portraying the Jewish Germans who were still trying to live their lives in their homes, particularly those who had married non-Jews. I found Maria and Simon's subplot much more compelling than the main romance.