Review by Chris Michael Smith
American History has long focused on the American perspective on World War II, with the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki being framed as the moments that ended the war. The narrative has been challenged over the years, with a relatively recent one emerging that these were excessive, unnecessary, and inhumane actions designed more to “scare” enemies than any practical usage in the war. And while these discussions are important to have, they fall flat without discussing the human impact.
Mushroom Cloud is a series of interviews with survivors of the bombings, many of whom have become activists in favor of disarming and eliminating nuclear weapons worldwide. Their stories are harrowing and heartbreaking, focusing on what they lost after the bombs were dropped.
Each person recounting their trauma in an effort to prevent it from happening again is as brave as it is heartbreaking. Their experiences in the immediate aftermath as well as in the ensuing years really drive the point home, as well as historians who contextualize the United States’ stance on it.
The film also includes rallying cries to remember the History, as modern politicians make choices that increase the danger of repeat occurrences and the potential for a world-ending catastrophe.
Mushroom Cloud is very heavy on interviews, but what every person has to say is worth hearing. They make a very strong case that weapons of this magnitude should not exist, nor is there any practical or strategic reason to use them; spoken from those who experienced it, survived it, and want to prevent it from happening to anyone else.