The Nuclear Comeback

On 26 April 1986 a reactor in the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine exploded and Europe was showered with radiation. The disaster heightened the global debate about the safety of nuclear power, and strengthened the anti-nuclear movement. Fast forward two decades, and the existential threat of climate change means nuclear power is being reevaluated as an energy alternative. Justin Pemberton's award-winning documentary examined the pros and cons. In this excerpt he and cameraman DJ Stipsen visit the ghost city of Pripyat, and enter the radioactive heart of the patched up Chernobyl power plant.

The nuclear industry has some aces and some spades. It's now up to us to decide how much we want to stake on the nuclear hand. The scary thing is we may now be gambling with our planet's survival.

– Director Justin Pemberton on the ideas explored in The Nuclear Comeback, TVNZ website, 2007

Key Cast & Crew

DJ Stipsen

Cinematographer

Bella Erikson

Editor

Jason Smith

Composer

Justin Pemberton

Director, Producer

Megan Jones

Producer, Research

Anika Moa

Composer