Join us for a screening of The Postman from Nagasaki, a documentary by filmmaker Kawase Mika about atomic bomb survivor and advocate of peace Taniguchi Sumiteru.
The film is inspired by Peter Townsend’s book published in 1984 under the title The Postman of Nagasaki. Following his career as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II, Townsend travelled to Japan as a writer and journalist, where he met Taniguchi Sumiteru and was deeply affected by his story.
Aged 16, Taniguchi was delivering mail on his bicycle on August 9, 1945, the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Less than two kilometres from the hypocentre, Taniguchi was thrown violently from his bicycle by the blast and suffered severe burns. After being discharged from hospital several years later, he devoted his life to the promotion of peace and to campaigning against nuclear proliferation.
The documentary follows Peter Townsend’s daughter, Isabelle, retracing her father’s footsteps in Nagasaki using his book and recorded voice memos as a guide. Discovering the city and the streets where young Taniguchi walked every day, as well as the neighbourhood where he was exposed to the atomic bomb, Isabelle gradually learns about his story and the reasons which prompted her father to write the book.
The screening on 9 August follows an introduction and discussion in which Isabelle Townsend reflects on the process of making the documentary and the lessons it holds for her today.
This film is in English and Japanese with English subtitles. Duration: approx. 90 minutes.
Guests who are booked to attend the screening can also enjoy 10% off drinks at The Stand on their way in.