The University of Nuclear Bombs (Elsawi and King, 2009): USA

Reviewed by Skylar Harrison. Viewed at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Metro 4 Theatre.

8 Activities to Do Instead of Watching The University of the Nuclear Bombs

1. Google The University of Nuclear Bombs: The only laudable aspect of this documentary is its subject matter. The documentary takes on the University of California’s involvement with the creation of weapons of mass destruction. Because of its lack of development, google it, and you’ll find all the information worth knowing.

2. Relive your high school years: Remember those awful documentaries you watched in high school? The interviewees’ voices practically singing you to sleep due to the lack of innovative cinematography? Just tap back into those memories, and you will accomplish the same feeling as watching The University of Nuclear Bombs. The topic matter is fascinating, just not in a film that forgets that editing and interesting camera movements can be just as effective as a powerful subject.

3. Read a children’s book: The University of Nuclear Bombs, although a documentary, seriously lacks in structure. By reading a children’s book you’ll be about to pinpoint the lacking elements of the documentary: characters, conflict, change and most importantly a quest. You’ll also be reminded of a, perhaps, forgotten moral.

4. Netflix a documentary: Food, Inc. will show you just how powerful a documentary can be without forcing your beliefs as The University of Nuclear Bombs attempts, and The Dancer is a superb example of how focusing a documentary on one person’s journey still gets across the same about of information, but the audience becomes much more invested in the film.

5. Take a nap: The woman sitting next to me did while watching The University of Nuclear Bombs. So why not save the $8, stay home, and catch up on some sleep?

6. You tube “effects of the atom bomb:” Five minutes on You Tube will spark five times more emotion and sympathy than the documentary did. Although they attempted to hit the audience hard with pathos, it comes too late and toward the end of the documentary.

7.  Go over your financial situation: At the end of the documentary, the directors came out for a Q and A. An audience member asked, “Why isn’t this issue more in the limelight?” Although the directors, for some reason, were not answering, a UC student did. His answer? Students have bigger issues to worry about than the creation of nuclear bombs on UC campuses (the tuition increase). With this comment, he belittled their film and reminded me of all the school debt I’ll be left with in three years.

8. Track down The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks around the Corner: This film was a favorite at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Although on a completely different subject than The University of Nuclear Bombs, searching the internet in order to find a way to see this film would be a much better use of time. After watching this film you will walk away with something rewarding, including new insight and hope.