Countdown To Zero Cinema Review

By Zlata Rodionova

At a time when we worry about global warming and overpopulation Lucy Walker (Waste Land) takes us back to a Cold War period and its fears of nuclear power.

Nuclear weapons are an issue that we semi-consciously decided to ignore a long time ago. In her well constructed, easy-to-follow, chilling documentary the director thus powerfully revives the subject. 

Countdown to Zero traces the history of the atomic bomb from its origins to the present state of global affaires: nine nations possessing nuclear weapons capabilities with others racing to join them.

Calling on the testimony of a host of experts, from scientist and former national security advisors to international statesmen such as Jimmy Carter, Mikhail Gorbachev or Tony Blair, Walker show us how close we came to a Dr Strangelove scenario where a misunderstanding nearly led to disaster.

The documentary presents us with interesting archival footage and fascinating facts. For instance we learn that we brushed against catastrophe in 1995, when a scientific research rocket to investigate the Northern Lights was by miscalculation taken for a US attacks by Russian military. Generals walked into Yeltsin’s office and advised him to retaliate but he (fortunately for us) simply refused to believe it and crisis was avoided.

But with constant aerial views of circled cities to indicate how far the potential nuclear destruction might go and the continuous use of a speech by JFK to the United Nations in 1961 stating that a "sword of Damocles" has hung over every living person, because "accident, miscalculation or madness" might well cause a disastrous nuclear event the movie heavily preys on its audiences’ fears.

Oddly, after 90 minute of facts proving that we live on borrowed time. The director suggests that nuclear power could be abolished thanks to public protest and provides a number where we could text our disapproval. Even the most positive viewer will know that it is doubtful that the government of China will care about his message.

For this reason, even though Countdown to Zero remains an important film that we shouldn’t ignore, after watching it the viewer is simply left with a cruel sense of helplessness.

There are now over 72 participating venues across the UK, where you can watch a screening of the film, followed by a live stream of the panel from BAFTA

countdowntozerofilm.com/screenings