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The Atomic Café is a compilation documentary film made from newsreel clips, television news footage, government-produced films (including military training films), advertisements, television and radio programs. Many of the films made by U.S. government agencies exaggerate or misrepresent the safety of nuclear radiation (e.g., telling troops at one point that it's safe to be irradiated as long as they keep their eyes and mouths shut), while the news footage reflects the public's prevailing attitudes.
Unlike most historical documentaries, the film has no narration and uses carefully constructed sequences of video clips to make its points. Atomic-themed songs from the period covered by the movie also appear.
The film was produced over a five-year period through the collaborative efforts of Jayne Loader, and brothers Kevin and Pierce Rafferty and was released in April 1982. Its release coincided with a peak moment in the international disarmament movement, and the film received much greater distribution than other politically-oriented documentaries. It instantly became a cult classic, and greatly influenced documentary filmmaking.
A CD-ROM companion to The Atomic Cafe with many of the clips and other materials from the film is available at Public Shelter. An illustrated book based on the film was published by Ballantine Books shortly after the film's release. A soundtrack album was also issued by Rounder Records.
External links
"The Atomic Cafe"