The Atomic Dream

It’s hard to not be taken immediately by the world the film conjures. Located in the second half of twentieth-century USA, it is constituted by a woman, her television set, and a teddy bear called Rodney who, she insists, has some crucial information regarding the fate of humanity. The ensuing space becomes isolating as much as it is inviting.

Sophia lives on her own, except for the mysterious Rodney and the harrowing news headlines on her TV, also reminiscent of contemporary news bulletins. When she is visited by her son-in-law, Frank, it is the conversation between the two that allows the viewer a longer glimpse into her world.

As she insists that the fate of humanity is heading towards its doom, again, echoing modern-day fears pertaining to the human race, Frank’s difficulty in believing her propositions becomes very much at one with the viewer’s disbelief due to the premise they are based on. Things continue to develop swiftly, building tension with every passing moment, until the characters truly reach a point of no return. The final result of the film offers a single moment in time, a single conversation on a particular night. It would indeed be interesting to see it developed as a longer project.