Film Lens
Dark Circle is a 1982 documentary directed by Judy Irving, Christopher Beaver, and Ruth Landy. It examines the links between the nuclear weapons and nuclear power industries, emphasizing the human and environmental costs in the U.S. The film points out that while only two atomic bombs were dropped on Japan, hundreds were detonated in the United States. It features footage from the Rocky Flats Plant, which illustrates plutonium contamination in the surrounding environment.
The documentary also covers the development and testing of U.S. nuclear weapons, including the wartime use of atomic bombs. It includes graphic footage of a Nagasaki bombing survivor and tests conducted on live hogs. The film concludes with anti-nuclear protests at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant, which delayed its licensing and revealed serious construction errors, such as earthquake supports installed backwards, discovered by a young engineer before the plant began operations.
Why Watch
- •See the shocking effects of nuclear contamination at Rocky Flats.
- •Watch footage of a Nagasaki survivor recounting his experience.
- •Find out how protests delayed Diablo Canyon's licensing.
Did You Know
•The film won the Grand Prize for documentary at the Sundance Film Festival in 1982.
•The Rocky Flats Plant was a significant source of plutonium contamination in its area.
•The Diablo Canyon Power Plant's construction errors were uncovered just before it went online.
•The film was initially approved for PBS broadcast in 1985 but was rejected a year later.
Perfect For
Nuclear power issuesEnvironmental activismCold War history