Within Hiroshima Mon Amour

Within Hiroshima Mon Amour, we find three interacting storylines: 1) that of Elle, the French woman, and her memories, 2) the relationship with the Japanese man, Lui and 3) the ever present distruction and rebuilding of Hiroshima after the bomb. It is interesting how they weave through one another and how Elle and Lui chose to use memories of their respective homes to get to know one another. The city of Hiroshima and how it displays its hopes and fears in the wake of the bomb is an ideal backdrop for two people who want to be together but can't due to fears of obligation and of reliving the past.
Elle's story and them memories that continually flood it might be the cause of confusion on the part of the viewer, especially when Lui tries to plant himself in the shoes of her dead lover back in Nevers...she talks as though their relationship happened just yesterday - and how it was the only thing that kept her going while she was kept in the cellar by her parents for having this relationship with the Belgian. A sad story and also sad because it seems to be the only thing she finds important enough to remember with such passion. Lui is not able to reach her, and pull her out of this vacuum and start living again - like the people of Hiroshima have. They've rebuilt and forgotten that horrible event that shattered their lives - as a country, they have rebuilt and focused on the future. But Elle, unable, and perhaps, unwilling, does not and leaves the man that could have helped her to look towards the future.