Judy Irving’s DARK CIRCLE: The Dangerous Intersection of Nuclear Power & Nuclear Energy

This classic episode of The Sounds of Film features an in-depth conversation with Tom Needham and acclaimed director Judy Irving about her powerful and deeply personal documentary, Dark Circle.

The film examines the far-reaching consequences of the nuclear industry by tracing the often-hidden journey of plutonium—from weapons manufacturing to energy production. Through the eyes of everyday Americans living in the shadows of these technologies, Dark Circle confronts the dangerous intersection of nuclear power and nuclear weapons.

Filmed at the notorious Rocky Flats plutonium plant near Denver, a site known for contaminating surrounding communities, and the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant in California—built on active fault lines—the documentary captures the real-life impact of the atomic age. It also features some of the first American-shot documentary footage of Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors, offering rarely-seen testimony that continues to resonate decades later.

Initially censored by officials and avoided by major broadcasters, Dark Circle was ahead of its time. Though controversial upon release, it went on to earn a National Emmy and was shortlisted for an Academy Award. Judy Irving discusses the challenges of making the film, its legacy, and why its themes remain disturbingly relevant in today’s nuclear conversation.