To End All War: Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb Documentary is available to stream on Peacock
A careful viewing of the full-length documentary To End All War: Oppenheimer and the Atomic Bomb provides significant backstory to the creation and disastrous deployment of the nuclear bomb by the US in 1945. While many might argue that the story within the documentary omits as much as it unveils and acts as a teaser to the major Hollywood blockbuster release of Oppenheimer this week, we recommend people watch the film for use in followup discussion.
Extreme care was taken in the artistic direction of the film with the use of brilliant animation designs that allow the creator to illustrate powerful reenactments of the shocking events that changed the world forever. Also, the expert design of hand-colored black and white photographs, restoration of damaged footage and dramatic camera angles helped bring events from nearly 80 years ago into what felt like a living moment.
Our esteemed community leader Hideko Tamura Snider was flown to Los Angeles for extensive interviews by the filmmakers and a collection of her clips can be seen on YouTube. Her graceful message shared elements of the same hope and reconciliation through education model that guides the work of One Sunny Day Initiatives, as well as profound grief after surviving the US bombing of her home city of Hiroshima. Photographs of her family and an undisturbed Hiroshima draw the viewer closer to unimaginable loss from surviving such an avoidable, catastrophic event.
The bulk of the narrative of To End All War is dedicated to exploring the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, also known as Oppie or the Father of the Atomic Bomb. The theoretical physicist has long been the subject of much debate and controversy, including how his Q security clearance was revoked after undergoing a Red Scare investigation proceeding.
Perhaps Oppenheimer’s most defining quote featured in the film tells a compelling story. It underscores the individualization of a geopolitical nightmare involving billions of dollars and millions of people around the world.
“We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, “Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” I suppose we all thought that one way or another.”
We hope you can join Peace House and One Sunny Day Initiatives on August 6 at Lithia Park at 8 a.m. for the 2023 Hiroshima Nagasaki Observance, and on August 9 at Ashland’s Congregational United Church of Christ at 7 p.m. for 90 Seconds to Midnight: What We Can We Do.
