In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Chicago Japan Film Collective (CJFC), in partnership with Gorton Center, presents a special screening of Ishibumi (2015), directed by acclaimed filmmaker KORE-EDA Hirokazu.

Originally produced by Hiroshima Television, Ishibumi revisits the story of 321 first-year students of the former Hiroshima Second Middle School whose lives were taken in the atomic bombing of August 6, 1945. Through the quiet and powerful recitation of letters and family testimonies, the film preserves voices that might otherwise fade from collective memory.

Known worldwide for his deeply humanistic storytelling, Kore-eda returns to his documentary roots in this moving work. Actress Haruka Ayase, a native of Hiroshima, lends her voice to the recited letters, offering a restrained yet emotionally resonant performance that honors the memories of the young lives lost.

The screening will be presented as a one-time theatrical event. A panel discussion may follow, subject to availability.

We invite you to join us for an evening of remembrance, reflection, and shared history.