Japan Cuts 2020: Fukushima 50 — Movie Review
Fukushima 50 is a movie based on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster, in the aftermath of the earthquake that hit it and was the centerpiece presentation of the Japan Cuts’ film festival. The Fukushima nuclear disaster is said to be the second worst nuclear plant disasters in the world, second only to Chernobyl.
At the center of this movie are the plant workers, they were named “Fukushima 50” after the incident by the international media, and the plot moves between them, the plant command center and the HQ. There is much to read about the way in which the issue at hand is shown to be handled by nuclear plant officials, compared to those at the HQ, same to be said about the way US is shown to help the Japanese government in rescue and relief efforts. I am not well read on Japanese politics, but there are interesting ways in which their Prime Minister is portrayed, who in a way seems to scream at every possible opportunity. As for the plant workers, a 2013 BBC article mentioned that efforts of these plant employees remain largely unknown, the article also went on to explore the toll it took on their mental health.
The movie is a decent watch and is made predominantly in a very “Hollywood” style — in that it uses decent visual effects, explores the characters’ history and personal situation in the light of an oncoming threat. The story is narrated in a way that keeps you hooked and in a thrilling way. However, it does not cover the narratives around accountability and the effects of the nuclear radiation that was released around the plant. There is no talk about the impact it had on the neighboring city which had to be evacuated or the toll it imposes on the lives around the plant. After seeing a Chernobyl, one would be looking for more depth in movies that center around human accountability.
Having said that, it opens a perspective into an event that needs attention and discussion around. In a post-Chernobyl world, it enables people to read up more and ask more questions to know more about the incident.
