Movie steaming services have really delivered over the past few years with a million dollar productions gracing our screens. As someone who doesn't watch mainstream TV or cable networks I'm really enjoying this new era of T.V.
Truth told I do own a subscription to a cable service however, it's dude to its inclusion in internet service and the fact I have a 4 year old. If you walk into my home 99% of the time it's cartoons on. I do watch the odd news broadcasts especially around election time but that's about it.
One of the greatest series of watched last decade was in fact the mini series Chernobyl, such a powerful show that captured a number of moments within the disaster that I didn't know occured. How accurate the miniseries is is left upto viewers but a significant amount of research went into its production. Perhaps our friends in Russia and Ukraine can help guide us on it's accuracy.
To date, Chernobyl is still one of the worlds worst man made disasters although personal opinion, COVID19 will replace the reactors melt down once the world gets to the bottom of its source.
The series focuses in on a number of core events that occured in the event but mainly focuses on Valery Legasov who was a Soviet inorganic chemist. I suppose with all films there needs to be a protagonist and an enemy. The film portrays Valery as the hero and the USSR as the enemy. I think delving in a bit deeper knowledge on the technology at the time was limited. Nuclear reactors were just coming to energy production from weapons and not many people would have known the ramifications of such things.
I wouldn't typically disagree with the portrayal of a nation trying to cover up such a disaster but this isn't unique to the USSR or Societ nations. All nations attempt to cover up their mistakes but the focus of the film zeroed in on the USSR as "bad guys". I think this aspect took away from the actual events of the day but was able to deliver on a great miniseries which employs actual events into the films adaption.
Other aspects that were left out of the film were the worlds attention and their scramble to zero in on Chernobyl. It was at the hight of fear of nuclear attack and the entire city was preparing for nuclear fall out as many homes and schools mandated face masks in the event of a nuclear fallout from a nuke launched by the US. Above is an image of what was referred to as the Russian Woodpecker a radar that shielded Chernobyl from spying. And covered the construction of the city from allied forces.
A 150meter tall by almost 1km long anti radar devise that emitted pulse waves that blocked radar devices.
Chernobyl was the USSR's response to the Western way of life, instead of a capitalistic means of production the town was built with an equal access to all amenities and services equally to its residents no matter where they lived or what job they were employed it.
It was a state of art city, the crown in the Jewel and an attempt at showing the world the socialism did in fact work and was able to provide everyone with a high standard of living. For its operation, it did.
I watched another documentary lastnight on the film I'm not sure what it was called but it was of a westerner attending the site just recently and I was surprised to see that Chernobyl still has an active workforce. I guess ensuring its safety will require ongoing work for the next few thousand years as the reactor has the ability to continue to spew out radiation and potentially ending the human world. I say human as what we have learned is that it is mainly humans that are impacted by the radiation as animals have returned and mother nature reclaimed much of the disaster site.
This will be one of the most beautiful places on the planet when it is over and none of us will ever be around to see it.
The hospital in Chernobyl is one of the most radioactive places in the world with many of those front line workers and fire fighters presenting to the hospital. Their gear and equipment still the most toxic. This idiot goes and sees the discarded items. I was angered to hear looters have been stealing the items and removing them from Chernobyl and taking them home outside of the danger zone. A dangerous move.
What isn't explored enough in the film is the people of the USSR the true hero's. Risking their lives to help humanity, a call to armies of people to attend and support clean up efforts and many did. Many died as a result but they did so in order to help the human race. If it wasn't for their actions who knows, the reactor could potentially be still spewing radiation across the planet killing everyone.
The above link is to modern stories of children being born with defects and health problems. These children were kilometres away from the blast and many weren't even born, they are children now. 35 years on and the radiation that entered the atmosphere is continuing to cause problems.
The Chernobyl miniseries was truly a piece of art and a stark reminder of the dangers humans face when exploring new technology.
If you haven't watched it, I would highly recommend slotting some time and exploring the emotional and frightening ride that Chernobyl provides its viewers.
Let us take a moment to reflect and provide our respect to those who perished saving us from a historical event that could have potentially ended humanity if not for their efforts.
Thank you
*Where images aren't sourced I Used my premium photo source subscription with *