As a child in the early 1950s, filmmaker M.T. Silvia was impressed that her mother Pauline did classified work as a researcher at the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory in San Francisco. Silvia's mom participated in five atomic bomb detonations at the notorious Nevada Test Site and also subjected mice and dogs to painful radiation testing. When, as an adult, M.T. learned more about the associated horrors, she became an anti-nuclear activist, after which mother and daughter did not discuss the issue for years. Atomic Mom juxtaposes archival footage, photographs, and expert interviews, with a series of conversations between parent and child in which the retired scientist finally shares the details of her work. But while Pauline can be candid, she refuses to discuss her health problems or acknowledge that they could have been caused by exposure to radiation. She's also haunted by her past—memories of the suffering canines' toenails scraping against the lab table still bring her to tears. Silvia also interviews Emiko Okada, a Japanese woman who is one of the few remaining survivors of Hiroshima. Okada is also filled with guilt, certain that her daughter's incurable blood disease is the result of her own exposure to radiation in childhood. Okada and Silvia's mother ultimately share a connection, lending intimacy to an issue that resonates globally. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Cruver)
Atomic Mom
(2011) 80 min. In English & Japanese w/English subtitles. DVD: $89: public libraries & high schools; $295: colleges & universities. Women Make Movies. PPR. Volume 28, Issue 1
Atomic Mom
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