The Day After Trinity

I came to look at this television documentary shortly after seeing Christopher Nolan's OPPENHEIMER (2023). The principal difference in the story is that in Nolan's movie, he tries to mislead the security forces about his sources concerning Russian spying at Alamogordo, and is later surprised to discover that it centered around Haakon Chevalier; in the documentary, he is the source for suspicions about the man.

It's not enough to change the story about Oppenheimer, but with the same set of facts, one can construct many stories. Nolan's movie is much more about Oppenheimer's personal life, and begins much earlier. This offers a viewpoint of his activities after the war, to control and limit the damage caused by his work. Each takes advantage of considerable hindsight to reach very different conclusions, both of which seem impeccable given the facts chosen by each. Based on having seen both within a short period of time, I can only conclude that they are both brilliantly done, and both badly lacking in completeness.

In 1942, brilliant physicist, Robert Oppenheimer, joined the top-secret "Manhattan Project" team which had set up its headquarters near the isolated town of Lamy, New Mexico (located in the desert wasteland).

By 1945, Oppenheimer, and his diligent colleagues, had perfected the Atomic bomb. And, yes, it was, then, in retaliation to Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor that the US government (inevitably) ordered that this most-destructive weapon of all be dropped directly onto Hiroshima.

Riddled with guilt over America's horrendous act of mass annihilation, Oppenheimer spent the remainder of his years trying (but to no avail) to somehow undo the wrong he believed he had inadvertently committed as a result of giving birth to the Atomic bomb.

But, alas - No matter how noble a man's pursuit for the greater good may be, it's what happens later when those of very questionable ethics get to play their hand in this ever-treacherous game of "life".

Can't wait for Nolan's 'Oppenheimer', so decided to see this docu. Quiet old but the story itself is pretty amazing. No wonder Nolan picked this story. Guess even without an advance in Germany with the allied troops, this is where the Nazis lost. Innovation is key! Glad Hitler and the Nazis didn't invest much in it. Got me curious how Nolan will use this powerful story of the Manhattan Project and Oppenheimer to his weird but entertaining storytelling.

Often gripping documentary detailing the father of the American atomic bomb. Two interesting themes emerged throughout the film. The first is the tension between the delight of scientific discovery and the social responsibility for its results. The second was the story of how the American government co-opted the scientific brilliance of a generation of progressive/left-wing scientists (who were rallied by anti-fascist fervour) to ignite a so-called Cold War with Communist Russia.

In both cases the hubris of the scientists (that nuclear weapons can be controlled, that politicians will act selflessly and share the knowledge, and enter into an international stewardship of the Bomb) reminds us of the gulf between technical skill and political savvy.

All of this is well presented well in the film, focused through the lens of the story of Robert Oppenheimer, and his triumphs and failings - his genius and short-sightedness - are laid bare. It does falter a bit after detailing the use of atomic weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - seeing anything after the presentation of this destruction leaves us emotionally exhausted - but Oppenheimer's fall from grace does feel like an anti-climax, and seems a little rushed.

Rating 7 out of 10 (quite good).

Jon Else's documentary, The Day After Trinity, is about the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a genius who helped develop the atomic bomb and whose life ended in criticism by Joseph McCarthy. The film also documents the establishment of Los Alamos and the length of time that led up to the Trinity test along with interviews of the people who worked with Oppenheimer. It is the best document involving nuclear weapons that I have seen and I highly recommend it to those would like to know more about the people who assisted on the world's most dangerous weapon. The actual footage of the hoisting of the bomb is excellent.