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Nuclear Panic

Posted on: 18 October 2009 by Thom Ernst

China Syndrome screenwriter, T.S. Cook

Used to be we were all afraid of the local nuclear reactors being built in our neighbourhoods. Now, only some of us live in that fear. During the recent labour day parade here in Toronto I was approached by an anti-nuclear lobbbyist who was handing out detailed brochures and leaflets supporting his argument. He was not only well informed on the reasons he opposes further nuclear advancement, but also incredibly passionate . It's a tough combination to go up against. I was fresh from pulling together a show on nuclear fear and benefits. I had just recently interviewed both Mike Gray and T.S. Cook the authors and screenwriters of THE CHINA SYNDROME and felt I was privvy to some inside information.

Author of The Warning and The China Syndrome, Mike Gray

Gray in particular is not just a Hollywood dramatists. He began his career as a documentary filmmaker and collaborated on the book The Warning, an account of the Three Mile Island incident. His interest and knowledge of the industry is extensive. That the CHINA SYNDROME began as a science fiction thriller and, within a week of its release, turned into a reality with the accident at Three Mile Island will remain one of the great, albeit unfortunate, coincidences of life imitating art. The theme tonight is on environmental monsters or rather, monsters of the environment. First there is THE CHINA SYNDROME. Perhaps the nuclear scare has become a somewhat sedate topic as nuclear saftey increases along with its benefits (and please...I invite all ideas and evidences that challenge that position - this is a blog after all and it works best when people use it to engage in conversation.).

But if THE CHINA SYNDROME seems to you entertaining, but dated - you might get a kick out of the second film - THE HOST. THE HOST is a Canadian television premiere for TVO. Our first televised movie premiere for Saturday Night at the Movies. It's a Korean monster flick that has the definitive creature spawned from hazardous waste. THE HOST may not be bang on to the evening's theme as family is more of an important theme to THE HOST than any environmental issues that may arise. Still, once this creature rises from the river and gobbles down its first taste of yummy pedestrian you will be thinking twice about what we toss into our waterways. And even though this is a film directly from South Korea by director Joon-ho-Bong (and if you get the chance, check out Bong's latest feature thriller, MOTHER) we still managed to get a couple of excellent interviews to help disucss the film. Critic Adam Nayman who took a special interest in THE HOST when it came out and wrote a remarkable essay on the film, joins us to elaborate on the style, meaning and ideas in Bong's monster masterpiece. Scott Wilson, (IN COLD BLOOD, MONSTER) who shows up as a nasty American military type also joins us for the show.

We've interviewed Scott Wilson (The Host) several times but he's never seemed happier than in this moment with producer Shereen Ali.

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