Christopher Nolan's film ''Oppenheimer'' (2023) is a heady mix of espionage, history, politics and suspense !!!!

A film review by © film critic Mr.Lalit Rao (FIPRESCI)

Oppenheimer is a different type of a biopic. It doesn’t aim to glorify the protagonist’s achievements. It has taken a neutral stance in which care has been taken to delineate both Oppenheimer’s achievements and weaknesses. While watching this film, viewers learn why Oppenheimer’s name as the father of the atomic bomb is still very relevant in contemporary times as we live in a world with 9 countries that are nuclear powers. In the film Oppenheimer, British director Christopher Nolan shows us how a man of science is treated in USA especially the loyalty of a scientist to USA is always under constant surveillance. There are a very few comic scenes in this film. It is more easily recognizable as a heady mix of espionage, history, politics and suspense.

Although it is a film about a specialized subject namely ‘‘quantum physics’’, Oppenheimer is relatively free of abstruse scientific jargon. This makes it easy for any layman to appreciate and understand the film and its underlying message. British cineaste Christopher Nolan is known for his blockbusters and Oppenheimer firmly establishes itself as an overbearing drama film that might be hailed as his best oeuvre so far. That there is only a very brief mention of the sacred Hindu scripture Bhagawadgita in the entire film might come as a rude shock to many Indians especially those who claim to be devout Sanatanis. In ‘Oppenheimer’, various discussions at regular intervals about Communism don’t carry any shock value as most intellectuals of those times had communist leanings or sympathies. Finally, devout cinéphiles would remember ‘‘Oppenheimer’’ as a film about the emotional as well as ethical dilemmas faced by the men of science.

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