Chernobyl: The Bitter Taste Of Wormwood

On April 26th, 1986 the number four reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear plant in the U.S.S.R. exploded. In the wake of the Chernobyl incident, characterized, as it was, by attempts at 'cover-up', a team of Japanese reporters combed western Europe to assess the effects of the explosion. This film follows the radioactive trail that has left hot spots in Sweden, Italy, Rome, and Turkey. Because of the force of the explosion and the weather conditions at the time, the deadly particles of cesium 137 traveled much further than the 30 km danger zone posited by the Russians. The investigative team interviews Laplanders whose entire economic livelihood has been threatened by the fallout which has infected substantial amounts of reindeer; a scientist who has recorded nuclear activity emanating from the U.S.S.R. on five or six different occasions over the past few years prior to Chernobyl; and evacuees to Kiev, who because of the fact that they lived outside of the initial 30 km danger zone, were evacuated long after the incident. Chernobyl is a sobering and horrifying look at man's technology literally exploding in his face--and an unflinching speculation about consequences we may be only beginning to see. Highly recommended for school and larger public libraries. (Available from: Films for the Humanities, P.O. Box 2053, Princeton, NJ 08543; 1-800-257-5126).