Screening of documentary film Nuclear Lands (Kami Productions, Arte France; 52 mins, 2015), followed by a Q&A session with director Kenichi Watanabe and scriptwriter Michaël Ferrier.

The movie describes three areas in the world in the US, France and Japan where the landscapes are dominated by nuclear sites. It explains the origins of plutonium, and examines its evolution from a matter used for military purposes to one which is used for nuclear energy. It explores the scientific, industrial and geopolitical implications of its production.

FILM DESCRIPTION (by Arte France)

The film begins with the story of the birth of plutonium production in the 40s in Hanford USA, then recounts the history of the nuclear reprocessing plant in La Hague, France, then tells of the Rokkasho nuclear site in Japan which is actually built on a seismic fault line. Citizens and local politicians share their thoughts and experiences on living near these nuclear sites. The film is based on archives made by scientists at that time and recreates the story of an industrial environment secretely born in arid and desolate locations. The sites, depicted though creative imagery, show us that humankind made an irreversible choice in the mid-twentieth century.