Mushroom Cloud: A Hibakusha Story

The documentary chronicles the aftermath of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Through the testimonies of Hibakusha (survivors of the atomic blasts), the film translates history into intimate memories of devastation, trauma, and survival. Hidankyo officers Michiko Kodama, Terumi Tanaka, Jiro Hamasumi, and Toshiko Hamanaka reveal enduring physical and emotional scars, as well as experiences of discrimination. They recount the political and international obstacles that have shaped efforts to support atomic-bomb victims and to abolish nuclear weapons. The narrative also examines the pivotal 1954 Bikini Atoll Incident, which shattered silence and culminated in Hidankyo's founding in 1956, with members attending United Nations conferences to advocate for peace. Professor Peter Kuznick discusses how Eisenhower and many military leaders viewed the bombings as unnecessary, given Japan's surrender, and provides context on nuclear diplomacy, the failures of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and the continued existence of nine nuclear powers.