Putin's Nuclear Threats: Why Hollywood Shies Away from the Reality

Putin's nuclear threats are a recurring theme in his geopolitical strategy, especially during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. His words have raised global tensions to levels not seen in decades. The idea of a nuclear strike, even a small one, is terrifying. It could kill many people, harm the world's economy, and break the long-standing rule against using nuclear weapons. A recent movie, "A House of Dynamite, " shows a tense moment where a U. S. president might have to respond to a missile attack. But the film doesn't show what happens next. It's a missed chance to show the real horror of nuclear war. Hollywood often avoids showing the true devastation of nuclear weapons. They'd rather blow up New York City for a superhero movie than show the real effects of a nuclear explosion. This avoidance is a problem. We need to face the reality of nuclear war to understand its dangers. Dr. Robert Jay Lifton argued that we should imagine the real dangers to avoid them. Yet, even recent films like "Oppenheimer" barely show the human cost of nuclear weapons. The last time nuclear war was a big topic in movies was during the Cold War. Films like "The Day After" showed the devastation and helped people understand the stakes. But since then, Hollywood has been shy about showing the real effects of nuclear weapons. There's a fear that showing the horror might make people numb to it. But the truth is, the reality is so bad that it's hard to show. Even the Smithsonian faced criticism for planning an exhibition about the U. S. bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Some people thought it was unpatriotic. Yet, recent polls show that Americans have mixed feelings about those bombings. Now, director James Cameron is working on a film about a survivor of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It could be a chance to show the world what really happened. But even he struggles with how to show the horror without overwhelming the audience. The truth is, the most honest depiction would be uncomfortable. But that's exactly what we need to see to prevent nuclear war in the future.