AllMovie

This documentary rests on a pivotal but little-known historical fact. Millions are aware of the devastation wrought on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6th, 1945 - when the Enola Gay became the first airplane in history to drop an atomic bomb. But few may realize the fact that no known footage of the bombing itself exists - meaning that the specifics are drawn only from firsthand recollections and writings of the survivors (individuals known as the Hibakusha) and that anyone who wants to understand the specifics must investigate the science as closely as possible. To arrive at a greater comprehension of these events, World War II historian Martin Morgan travels to Hiroshima, Japan for a site survey, including a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, and accompanies survivors as they point out the remnants of the city's destruction nearly 65 years prior. Morgan also journeys out to the middle of the desert and creates a mini-explosion to arrive at an even more approximate understanding of what ensued on that fateful day. The program makes much use of interviews with historians and survivors, as well as state-of-the-art CG animations.