It's time to revisit nuclear energy. In the presence of director Oliver Stone, we traverse the history of nuclear energy from its origins to mass hysteria and now to its potential to help us save ourselves from extinction.
With unprecedented access to the nuclear industry in France, Russia, and the United States, Nuclear explores our ability to overcome the challenges of climate change and energy poverty to achieve a more sustainable future through the power of nuclear energy.
Films and series about nuclear disasters, especially the historical events that inspired their production, have instilled a general fear. The public has voted numerous times for the closure of nuclear power plants around the world, and the documentary suggests taking another look at what we fear the most because it can save us. The dilemma is explained simply: we are on a bridge about to be crossed by a train, so we run to the other end as fast as we can, but the train is faster than us. The only options are to either stop running or jump into the water. Nuclear energy is the water, and whether we choose it to save ourselves or not, the train will catch up with us. And if it sounds familiar, it's an analogy to the scene in Stand by Me, 1986.
The truth is that in recent years, we have invested so many resources in renewable energy, and yet we burn more fossil fuels than ever, the documentary explains. It's a lesson about science, engineering, vision, and love for our only home. Nuclear is a brave production that tackles an issue we're tired of hearing about but one that needs to be addressed. Based on the book A Bright Future by Joshua S. Goldstein and Staffan A. Qvist, the documentary draws the attention of Western viewers to the inequalities resulting from climate change triggered by the greed of wealthy countries. We are confronted with uncomfortable realities that leave us regretting not having done more.
However, it is not too late. Like any successful American film, the ending can be a happy one if we let nuclear energy serve our needs instead of fueling our fears. Based entirely on scientific facts, the documentary represents a first manual in a series of best practices that we must follow.