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Half Life: A Parable for the Nuclear Age (1985)

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clip An ill wind

This clip chosen to be PG

Clip description

Two US weathermen were exposed to dangerous levels of radiation when the US exploded a test hydrogen bomb in the Marshall Islands in 1954. Lamont Noley believes their exposure was the result of insufficient knowledge and care. Don Baker believes it was deliberate, part of a strategy to study the long-term effects of radiation exposure on humans.

Curator’s notes

by Poppy De Souza

As well as hundreds of Marshallese who were exposed to dangerous levels of radiation, a small number of US officials were also exposed. Their boat was one of many set up to monitor the weather conditions surrounding the blast and was stationed at Rongerik Atoll, on the edge of the nuclear fallout zone. These interviews are from two of the survivors, each of whom has a differing opinion as to what went wrong. O’Rourke’s technique of filming interviews in the subject’s homes, with normal family life going on around them, gives a real sense of immediacy and intimacy, making the content even more shocking. It is one of O’Rourke’s skills as an observational filmmaker. He gives his subjects the opportunity to speak for themselves and rarely uses narrative voice-over.

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australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.

All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions.

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  • The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.

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