Atomic Hope

It’s indisputable that we’re in the middle of a climate crisis that’s having a devastating impact on the environment. The question is how to best approach this issue, with cleaner energy solutions being a major talking point within these conversations. But to small but passionate groups, the solution isn’t renewable energy, it’s nuclear. To these people, nuclear is the safest, cheapest and cleanest means of generating power. On the surface, this is an intriguing idea that dresses itself as the obvious answer to climate change. However, Atomic Hope (the second feature from Irish filmmaker Frankie Fenton) never goes into any specific detail to explain why this is, whilst simultaneously downplaying the very real risks that led to the disasters in Chernobyl, Fukushima and Three Mile Island.

The subjects in this documentary make it clear that they care deeply about saving the planet. They know that their views are controversial, and it’s this film’s job to convince audiences why they’re right. It quickly becomes apparent, though, that it doesn’t have any arguments to do so, nor does it allow space for discussion. One pro-nuclear advocate sings the praises for an element called thorium, but beyond it being a possible alternative for uranium, they don’t go into detail about what it is or why it’s better. Likewise, others will throw out facts like eating one banana gives you more radiation than living next to a power plant for a year. Another claims the public’s conception of the risks of radiation is “misinformation”.

Though these figures and buzzwords sound attractive, Atomic Hope doesn’t give airtime to any critical opposition to these controversial views. What the feature does do, is paint this movement as an uphill struggle to get their voices heard. They’re the outsiders just trying “to get a seat at the table”, as one puts it. Various scenes show the subjects being asked to leave climate protests or being outright ignored at larger events. This film wants to frame them as grassroots rebels, but with no opposition to challenge their flimsy arguments, this film becomes a heavily one-sided debate that often strays into propaganda territory.

At best, Atomic Hope offers a new idea to begin a dialogue, though viewers will come out of this film knowing just as little about thorium as they did when they went in.

Andrew Murray

Atomic Hope is released in select cinemas on 17^th February 2023.

Watch the trailer for Atomic Hope here: