Watch Radio Bikini

Radio Bikini is a documentary film directed by Robert Stone. The film premiered in 1988 and explores the aftermath of the nuclear testing conducted on Bikini Atoll by the United States in the early 1950s. The movie follows the history of the island and its residents, who were forced to evacuate their homes while the US Government conducted nuclear tests on their land. The movie begins by showing archival footage from the 1950s, where the US Government conducted a series of nuclear tests on Bikini Atoll. The footage from the tests reveals the extensive damage caused by the nuclear bombs, which led to the evacuation of the island's inhabitants. The movie then follows the story of Bikini Atoll, starting from before the tests began. The documentary shows the quirks of life on the island, including their fondness for church, parades, and music. The camera shows the island's majestic landscapes and beautiful beaches. The island was a paradise that supported the natives' livelihoods and their hope of future generations enjoying the island. The historical impact of the nuclear tests on the island is depicted in the documentary. Experts on the island's soil and water discovered after the nuclear tests that the island was uninhabitable due to high levels of radioactive contamination. The documentary reveals how this resulted in Bikini Atoll being uninhabitable for the locals, who were forced to move to a neighboring island called Kili. The movie illustrates the events that unfolded following the nuclear tests. It exposes the locals' reactions about being forced to abandon their homes and about the nuclear tests. The film presents interviews with members of the Bikini community, who detail their experiences of the crisis. The documentary then explores the US Government's response to the situation. The government relocated the entire community of Bikini Atoll to Kili. We see the locals speaking on behalf of their loved ones who were affected by the radiation. We witness an approach between civilians and the government, where they try to negotiate to save their only home. The documentary also highlights the US government's propaganda campaign. The US government's campaign conveyed the notion that the Bikini Atoll project was worth the potential harm. The government highlighted the "safety codes" used during the nuclear tests rather than the truth behind the long-lasting damage done to the environment and the island's residents. In the final scenes, the movie shows how the Bikini Atoll continues to be affected by the radiation. We see the island's continued struggles with radiation contamination and how it impacts the island to date. Overall, Radio Bikini is a documentary that exposes a profound environmental disaster and its impact on local communities. The documentary does not take any political stance, but presents an honest account of the events, unfolding in a chronological order. The filmmakers involve the community, use captivating footage and present their views about what happened on Bikini Atoll. The film does an excellent job of making viewers understand the bigger picture context of the situation. It shows the ethical and moral issue involved with using a weapon of mass destruction in the name of scientific advancement, with disregard for human life. Indeed, Radio Bikini is a must-watch film on both historical and social aspects.