BLOWING UP PARADISE

The horriying story about the French nuclear testing in the Pacific

If nuclear bombs hadn’t been invented, the Moruroa atoll might have remained one of the world’s last untouched islands with its white sands and blue seas. Instead, this idyllic setting is synonymous with 30 years of nuclear testing, with the final tests being carried out to worldwide protest in 1995. Now, in the year of the 10th anniversary of the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, and the 60th anniversary of Hiroshima, comes the first ever historical documentary about the French nuclear tests in the Pacific.

This is a rollercoaster of a story packed with massive nuclear explosions filmed in colour, proud French generals and presidents, idyllic tropical islands, adventure on the high seas, the tears of sick former tests workers and French soldiers , the bombs of radical terrorist cells and French spies, the struggle of an oppressed people for independence, environmental protest, riots and a city in flames. This is a atomic version of Paradise Lost. This is the French ‘Radio Bikini’.

Release year:

2004

Director:

Ben Lewis

Co production:

BBC, ZDF, YLE, VPRO, TG4, SBS, ETV & TV2 Danmark

Running length:

59 or 80 minutes

Production company:

Bergmann Pictures

 

Categories:

• People & Culture
• Social, Political & History
• Feature Lenghts