Not many know the name Stanislav Petrov, but they should. In 1983, he was the only person who could save the world. Now established as a computer error, the events of September 28th would go unnoted for decades. Colonel Petrov’s career was harmed by his defiance of protocol, and the stress lead to his divorce. Now a lonesome man living in a dreary old apartment on pension, Stanislav is extended a special invitation by the UN to visit the US.
Hounded by reporters and documentarians in his home, Stanislav accepts the invitation if only to get a free vacation from his everyday life. As he experiences American life, he comes to understand his old enemy. Still, he warns of the looming doom of mutually assured nuclear destruction which has only increased in recent years. Interspersed throughout are dramatized reenactments of that fateful day in 1983 when Stanislav Petrov saved the world.
The Man Who Saved The World is an intriguing documentary with a thriller aspect. While the use of dramatized reenactments is extremely entertaining, some viewers may be somewhat confused about which parts are real documentary footage and which are dramatic, especially at the beginning. The dramatic elements are well-acted, and the set dressing is immaculate, taking the viewer straight to a secret nuclear bunker deep in Soviet Russia.
Those interested in nuclear warfare and anti-war activism will particularly enjoy The Man Who Saved The World. Despite everything, Stanislav stands as a man of peace. He represents the human cost of nuclear brinksmanship. With the press of a button, one man could destroy the world. Stanislav Petrov showed the backbone to stand for humanity during what may be the closest we have come to nuclear annihilation. Combining the best elements of drama and documentary, The Man Who Saved The World will hold the attention of many types of viewers. Highly Recommended.
Where does this title belong on public library shelves?
The Man Who Saved The World belongs on biography and war documentary shelves.
What type of film series could use this title?
Any anti-war film series would benefit greatly from the addition of The Man Who Saved The World.