Film Lens
City 40 is a documentary about Ozyorsk, a closed city in Russia, located near the site of the Kyshtym disaster. Directed by Samira Goetschel, the film uses hidden camera footage and archival material alongside interviews with residents. The town is known for its connection to the Soviet nuclear weapons program and is surrounded by barbed wire and guarded gates. The residents believe they are contributing to a greater good, yet they face the consequences of living near one of the most polluted areas due to radioactive waste dumping.
The film features interviews with key figures like Nadezhda Kutepova, a civil rights activist who shifted her views after witnessing the ecological damage, and Vladimir Kuznetsov from the Russian Atomic Energy Corporation, who discusses the factory's security. The documentary also touches on the personal stories of residents affected by radiation and concludes with Kutepova's asylum in France after facing persecution for her activism.
Why Watch
- •Meet Nadezhda Kutepova, a civil rights activist in Ozyorsk.
- •Find out about the Kyshtym disaster and its impact.
- •See hidden footage from a closed Russian city.
Did You Know
•Ozyorsk was not on state maps until after the Soviet Union fell.
•Mayak factory holds an estimated 50 tons of weapons-grade plutonium.
•Radioactive waste was dumped into Lake Irtyash and Techa River, polluting them significantly.
•In 2017, City 40 was nominated for an Emmy Award in the News & Documentary category.
Perfect For
Nuclear history enthusiastsEnvironmental activistsDocumentary film fans