Watch Atomic Homefront

Atomic Homefront is a heart-wrenching documentary from 2017 that sheds light on the effects of nuclear waste exposure on average American citizens. The movie is directed by Rebecca Cammisa and is based on one of the worst man-made environmental disasters in American history - the West Lake Landfill in St. Louis, Missouri. The movie primarily follows the tireless efforts of several community activists who are fighting against a corrupt government and corporate system to uncover the truth about radioactive waste.

The movie opens with an introduction to the community members of North County St. Louis who have been affected by the nuclear waste that has been dumped in the West Lake Landfill for decades. One of these activists is Dawn Chapman, a mother of two who moved into the area several years ago and has since become a key leader in the fight. Dawn takes the filmmakers on a tour of her neighborhood, where she points out the various signs of contamination, such as the high rate of cancer and other diseases in the area.

Next, we meet Karen Nickel, another North County resident who lost her daughter to leukemia when she was just 28 years old. Karen's daughter was not the only one to be affected by the radioactive waste, as Karen soon discovered that her neighborhood was surrounded by multiple sites of nuclear contamination. At this point, the movie begins to delve into the history of the West Lake Landfill, which was initially created in 1939 to store radioactive materials from the Manhattan Project.

As the documentary unfolds, we learn that the West Lake Landfill was eventually given to a company called Republic Services, which has been accused of gross negligence in its handling of the radioactive waste. The following years were marked by various cover-ups and lies from both the government and Republic Services, as the two entities have been working together in order to keep the toxic waste buried.

Throughout the movie, Dawn, Karen, and several other community activists tirelessly petitioned and protested to raise awareness about the environmental disaster that was occurring in their backyard. Their plea for help reached the ears of concerned outsiders, including renowned Cosmologist Neil deGrasse Tyson, who spoke out about the dangerous effects of nuclear waste contamination. The movie also features a segment on the famous environmental activist Lois Gibbs, who shares her own experiences with fighting against toxic waste, and imparts her wisdom on the passionate yet exhausted activists.

The movie features a series of interviews with historians, environmentalists, and government officials, who explain the complex laws governing radioactive waste disposal and the challenges involved in cleaning up the West Lake Landfill. This is an interesting and candid expose that puts a human face on a man-made environmental disaster. It documents the plight of the everyday people who are left to suffer the consequences of a nuclear weapons program that was developed on their home soil.

In conclusion, Atomic Homefront is a powerful and insightful documentary that highlights the ongoing and tragic effects of nuclear waste. We highly recommend this movie for anyone who wants to uncover the truth behind the West Lake Landfill disaster or to learn more about the global issue of environmental contamination. The brave residents who fought for their rights and exposure to the world the continuous lies of the government, and asks its audience important questions about accountability, and the need to limit and manage radioactive waste.