Antidote
Episode 39
THE POLYGON: Secret Soviet Test Sites + Radioactive Kazakhstan Exposed with Kimberly Hawryluk + Scott Chrisman
THE POLYGON, a documentary on the former Semipalatinsk Test Site, profiles the Soviet Union’s infamous Cold War nuclear experiments where 600 bombs were tested from 1949 to 1989, before dismantling in 1991. 20 years later, filmmakers Kimberley Hawryluk and Scott Chrisman discuss filming inside the small village of Sarzhal and examine how Kazakhstan’s government allowed 200,000 villagers to secretly become unofficial human guinea pigs, suffering from cancer, birth defects and mental illness as a result of radioactive fallout in this Antidote interview hosted by Michael Parker.
Episode Breakdown
00:01 Welcoming Kimberley Hawryluk and Scott Chrisman to Antidote.
00:27 THE POLYGON and the secret Soviet Union’s nuclear test sites.
03:25 THE POLYGON, Trailer.
05:27 The fallout, effects and human testing.
08:45 Sarzhal, education and hope.
11:35 Nucleotides, craters and a circle of DNA destruction.
16:19 The cyclops baby, birth defects and death records.
20:53 How scrap iron salvage in the polygon effects the rest of the world.
22:30 Closing the Polygon and government pensions.
25:17 Kazakhstan today.
28:56 Tunnels of plutonium and the US and Russian governments.
32:03 What’s next for the film.
33:45 Thank you and goodbye.
Guest Bio
THE POLYGON shines a light on the village of Sarzhal in East Kazakhstan, situated only 18kms from the perimeter of the former Semipalatinsk Test Site, that was home to over 600 nuclear detonations. Between 1949 and 1991 the Soviet Union detonated 116 above ground bombs, whose massive radioactive mushroom clouds were witnessed by thousands of innocent and unsuspecting Kazakh villagers. They gazed open mouthed at the spectacle, completely unaware that nuclear fallout was raining down on them, their children, livestock and homes. 20 years after the closure of The Polygon they are still suffering high rates of cancer, cancer related diseases and mental illness. The Polygon takes us on a journey from the twisted Cold War experiments to those victims who remain today, still suffering despite the emergence of Kazakhstan as a major economic player on the global stage.
KIMBERLEY HAWRYLUK, producer, is an Australian actress who has worked on shows such as the British series COLD FEET, ABC’s LOST, ALL SAINTS, HOME & AWAY, TALES OF THE SOUTH SEAS, HERCULES and GLADIATORS. Kimberley entered the world of acting at age 19 while she was studying languages and international relations at Bond University. Kimberley’s foray into documentary production began in 2008 after being introduced to the plight of the people of East Kazakhstan by Struan Stevenson, MEP. Producing and directing THE POLYGON has seen her lead teams to Eastern Kazakhstan in 2008, 2010, and 2011.
SCOTT CHRISMAN, director of photography, known for his ability to capture in moving image the subtitles of the human emotional spectrum. Hiscinematic style lends itself to a more commercial appeal, with smooth, flowing motion and finely tuned composition while his experience in the documentary world make for a perfect marriage. His understanding of technical know how and story telling ability as an editor make him well versed in the art of cinema. It has been his dream since he first started making films as a young adult to use the far reaching world of film to help effect global change.
Hosts
Comments