Ben Loeterman’s latest investigation journeys into the birth of the atomic age, peeling back the curtain on how the United States government not only developed the first atomic bombs, but also shaped and sold their legacy to the American public. Through evocative archival footage, interviews with historians and scientists, and newly uncovered documents, Loeterman and producer Gaia de Simoni explore the calculated campaign of persuasion and secrecy that accompanied one of history’s most consequential technological leaps.

Official messaging and public spectacle transformed the bomb from a closely guarded secret into a symbol of American power—while suppressing doubts and fears about its use and potential consequences. Loeterman presents a nuanced portrait of the struggle to reconcile national security with democracy, and of the profound reverberations those decisions still have today.

Bombshell challenges audiences to rethink the narratives we inherit and the uneasy alliances between science, government, and the stories that shape the world.

Screening followed by audience talkback with Ben Loeterman and Gaia de Simoni.