The Sorcerer's Apprentice (1996)

The Sorcerer's Apprentice (1996) poster

60 years ago, in the Algerian desert, an atomic bomb, equivalent to three or even four times Hiroshima, exploded. Named the “Blue Gerboise”, it was the first atomic bomb tested by France, and of hitherto unrivaled power. This 70 kiloton plutonium bomb was launched in the early morning, in the Reggane region, in southern Algeria, during the French colonial era. If this test allowed France to become the 4th nuclear power in the world, it had catastrophic repercussions. France had, at the time, certified that the radiation was well below the standard safety threshold. However, in 2013, declassified files revealed that the level of radioactivity had been much higher than announced, and had been recorded from West Africa to the south of Spain.

Director: André Gazut
Genre: Documentary, Drama
Runtime: 62 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Cinematography: René Vautier, Claude Paccaud
Editing: Véronique Rotelli
Production: TSR
Country: Switzerland
Language: Français
Original Language: fr

Keywords

nuclear radiation, nuclear bomb, algeria, french colonialism, nuclear testing, djazair, sahara, algerian sahara, french nuclear, gerboise bleue

More Films by Director: André Gazut
More Films in Genre: Documentary, Drama

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Sorcerer's Apprentice about?
60 years ago, in the Algerian desert, an atomic bomb, equivalent to three or even four times Hiroshima, exploded. Named the “Blue Gerboise”, it was the first atomic bomb tested by France, and of hitherto unrivaled power. This 70 kiloton plutonium bomb was launched in the early morning, in the Reggane region, in southern Algeria, during the French colonial era. If this test allowed France to become the 4th nuclear power in the world, it had catastrophic repercussions. France had, at the time, certified that the radiation was well below the standard safety threshold. However, in 2013, declassified files revealed that the level of radioactivity had been much higher than announced, and had been recorded from West Africa to the south of Spain.
Who directed The Sorcerer's Apprentice?
The Sorcerer's Apprentice was directed by André Gazut.
Who stars in The Sorcerer's Apprentice?
The Sorcerer's Apprentice stars Jean Vautrin.
How long is The Sorcerer's Apprentice?
The Sorcerer's Apprentice has a runtime of 1h 2m (62 minutes).
What genre is The Sorcerer's Apprentice?
The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a Documentary, Drama film.
Where was The Sorcerer's Apprentice produced?
The Sorcerer's Apprentice was produced in Switzerland.