This particular production is a lightly dramatized documentary about the first 88 hours in the Fukushima nuclear plant after the earthquake hit Japan on Mar. 11, 2011. I have used the word “lightly” because the documentary stays very close to the facts, including the psychological situation of the individuals who worked at the plant at the time.
Furthermore, it entails detailed explanations with actual testimonies from individuals who were present at the time, and explanatory computer graphics about what exactly was happening at the reactors, and the various incidents and situations that led to the accident, as the people responsible were desperately struggling to avoid the worst-case scenario.
In that aspect, the production at times looks either like a thriller, as the agony of all the people involved increased or like a drama, in a number of shattering scenes, like the one where the plant manager has to ask the workers who barely escaped with their lives to go out again in the highly radiated area.
The central character is Masao Yoshida, the plant manager at the time and the one imbued with most of the responsibility and decisions, it takes a huge toll on him as we watch him become more and more desperate, since the damage could even jeopardize all of East Japan.
In this highly demanding role, Ren Osugi (Hana-bi, Cure, Twilight Samurai) gives a wonderful performance.
Overall, “Meltdown – The Fateful 88 Hours” is a must-see broadcast, which explains thoroughly the particular aspect of the incident, without becoming at all tiresome, due to its artful dramatization.
Meltdown – The Fateful 88 Hours is a production of NHK (Japan’s sole public television broadcaster) that will be broadcast nationally on Link TV and on KCET in Southern California as part of the Commemoration of the Fifth Anniversary of Japan’s Earthquake and Fukushima Disaster.
LINK TV:
88 Hours Part 1 Premieres Tonight, Friday March 11 7:00 PM ET/PT on Link TV (DirecTV 375 and DISH 9410).
88 Hours Part 2 Follows immediately after at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Link TV (DirecTV 375 and DISH 9410).
KCET:
88 Hours Part 1 Premieres Tonight, Friday March 11 at 9 p.m. PT on KCET (KCET.org/findkcet)
8 Hours Part 2 Follows immediately after at 10 p.m. PT on KCET
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For more information please visit:
[ https://www.linktv.org/shows/
