Einstein und die Bombe

Have you seen "Oppenheimer" yet? It helps to have seen it before this docuseries. It's a commitment of time (3 hours), but worth it, with amazing performances all around and a whole bunch of new knowledge learned.

This new docudrama on Netflix is a good complement to the movie, and in a trim 1h15m, dives into more detail about Einstein and his place in the firmament of history with regard to the invention of the atomic bomb. Of course, it's not going to paint the entire picture in a short time, but does add some good color about Einstein's conflicted conscience on what he helped unleash, however small his role may have been.

"Einstein and the Bomb" was clearly meant to piggyback on the success of "Oppenheimer". But in terms of journalism and content, it is a failure. Far too much time was spent focusing on Hitler-Germany and Einstein's Jewish background, and far too little time on Einstein's work and personal life. There was also too much focus on his time in England, without a word being spoken about his time in Switzerland, which was far more important. It was in Bern where Einstein wrote his Special Theory of Relativity. There was even a major international event in Bern to mark the 100th anniversary of the Special Theory that drew eminent scientists from all over the world. (I reported on it for Swiss Radio International).

Einstein described his life in the Swiss capital as the happiest and most productive period of his career. His apartment on Kramgasse in Bern's old town near The Bear Pit is a popular museum, visited by people from all over the world. Einstein was also a Swiss citizen. But not one second of the story was devoted to this. There was only a brief pan-shot of Zurich (not Bern) without any label or explanation. Totally out of context. This is bad journalism and inexcusable.

If you are interested in more about Einstein in Bern, you'll find it under that title.

This documentary combines archive footage and acted scenes to show parts of Albert Einstein's life and thinking, using his own words. This is the part I liked most about this film: in the acted scenes and the voice-overs, exclusively verbatim quotes by Einstein are being used. No invented dramatizations. The documentary does a good job in using Einstein's quotes to show his beautiful and exceptionally intelligent mind and to paint a coherent image of the his pacifist and internationalist convictions.

However, you might be disappointed if you are expecting more insights into Einstein's connection to the development of the atomic bomb. Contrary to what the title promises, there is very little content on that matter, beyond a reference to the Einstein-Szilard letter, his motives for signing said letter and his posterior regrets. Actually, only the last third of the film even touches upon these questions. For the larger part, it shows Einstein's life in the 20s and 30s, interlaced with the rise of the Nazis and World War II. It does not contain more insights on the development of the atomic bomb and Manhattan Project than does Oppenheimer and it does not show his private life in the way season 1 of Genius does.

The acted scenes mostly take part in Roughton, Norfolk, where Einstein was offered refuge in September 1933 by MP Oliver Locker-Lampson after fleeing Germany. The reason for focusing on that relatively minor episode of his life may be that this is a British production which wished to highlight the one relevant connection of Einstein with the UK.

In some scenes, Einstein seems oddly mute, which presumably has to do with the decision to only use documented quotes, so no small talk is possible. As in other documentaries, such as in Genius, the producers (annoyingly) decided to let the acted Einstein speak only English (with German accent), even when he speaks to other Germans, rather than have him also speak his native German language.

The film ends on a strong note, with two message to us contemporary viewers. "The fate of mankind hinges entirely on man's moral development." - "Dear posterity, if you have not become more just or peaceful and generally more rational than we are or were, then may the devil take you."

This was average at best. I wouldn't call it a documentary. It was a drama with some documentary film added in to try and give it some clout. Made to try and capitalise off the renewed interest in the subject thanks to Oppenheimer, you can tell Netflix rushed out to create anything it could with predictable results. The bomb isn't even mentioned until about 30mins remaining and nothing new or interesting is depicted. Letters are portrayed in person just to try and dramatise the exchange. If the purpose of this was to inform and/or entertain, it did neither. So as far as I'm concerned it's not worth watching.

Most of us are aware of the theoretical pathways that led to Hitler's rise. This collection of footage offers a tangible, step-by-step journey into that historical period, providing a profound understanding of the events. It's also fascinating to delve into Albert Einstein's thought processes. Beyond his scientific genius, Einstein demonstrated worldly acumen, such as his timely escape from Germany and his advisory role to Oppenheimer, showcasing his ability to blend intellectual prowess with practical wisdom. His foresight and strategic thinking were remarkable, revealing a man who was much more than just a "science nerd."