Victory in war doesn't end prejudice. That idea is enacted in the 1988 release Hiroshima Maiden. Ten years after the end of World War II, suburbs are becoming popular as baby boomers seek normalcy. While race riots are being raged in the South, middle-class America deals with a subtler form of bigotry. Miyeko, a Japanese survivor of Hiroshima, seeks plastic surgery in the United States. Sent to live with an American family, she faces a daily struggle against hatred. Her toughest critic is the story's hero, Jonathan, who combats peer pressure and his own feelings while befriending Miyeko. The family is outcast during the young girl's recovery. Meanwhile, Jonathan's expectations are smashed when he learns life is less than ideal. Jonathan's growth comes from an increased understanding of others.
Joan Darling directs Susan Blakey,
Richard Masur,
Stephen Dorff, and
Tamlyn Tomita in this thought-provoking presentation. ~ Sarah Ing, All Movie Guide