FALLOUT (ATOM Study Guide)

FALLOUT is an insightful documentary that can be viewed on a variety of levels. A study of the documentary has direct relevance to the study of History, English, Social Sciences, Religious Studies, Health and Physical Education, and Media Studies.

At the most basic level, it is the story of the writing of the novel On the Beach by Nevil Shute, the making of a major Hollywood motion picture in Australia and the ongoing resonance of Mr Shute's vision. Beyond that it is also the story of the creative process, which is the topic of the documentary, and offers insights into:

1. how the idea for Nevil Shute's novel On the Beach was born – for English students the novel is part–science fiction, part-tragedy and also a warning about the ongoing dangers of nuclear weapons;
2. how the famous film director Stanley Kramer took the novel and translated it into a motion picture – for students of media, drama and history on film, both Fallout and Stanley Kramer's film open fields of study into the power of both the written word and cinematic images;
3. the fragile and tenuous grip that the human species has on life on the planet.