The US detonated 67 nuclear weapons over the Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands during the Cold War, the consequences of which still reverberate down four generations to today. "NUKED," is a timely new feature documentary focussing on the human victims of the nuclear arms race, tracing the displaced Bikinian's ongoing struggle for justice and survival even as climate change poses a new existential threat. Using carefully restored archival footage to resurrect contemporaneous islanders’ voices and juxtaposing these with the full, awesome fury of the nuclear detonations, NUKED starkly contrasts the official record with the lived experience of the Bikinians themselves, serving as an important counterpoint to this summer’s Oppenheimer.
Editing
Restored archival voices vs. mushroom clouds: devastating juxtaposition.
Direction
Nisker lets survivors speak, refuses to aestheticize suffering.
Director
Andrew Nisker
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The bikini swimsuit was named after the atoll in 1946—same week as the first test, exploiting the 'explosive' publicity. The film uses this to open.
The 'Bravo' test was 1,000 times more powerful than predicted; islanders weren't evacuated for 48 hours despite visible fallout. The U.S. later classified this as 'local fallout' to avoid liability.
CA
