Books in Brief

It must be said that, from a technical point of view, Hiroshima is a complete artistic success. The directing and acting are marvelous, and for those who hanker after the old Tennessee Williams, it’s chock-full of symbolism.

Happily, the bulk of the film’s message may be somewhat lost in the hinterlands. I saw it in Miami, and, as I left the theater, witnessed a female critic gazing starry-eyed at her escort and observing, “Gee, great flick, huh?”