Tuesday, May 21, 2013

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Film Sunday Spotlights Nuclear Ambitions in Alaska
Documentary about proposed nuclear detonations near Point Hope
By Bill McAllister


ANCHORAGE - A documentary about the proposed nuclear detonations near Point Hope, Alaska, in 1958 premieres Sunday at the Anchorage Museum.

“History of the Inupiat: Project Chariot” is a 72-minute film using archival footage and recent interviews with Point Hope elders and academics.

Produced and directed by Rachel Naninaaq Edwardson of Barrow, the film reviews the opposition by villagers to the Atomic Energy Commission's plan to detonate eight nuclear bombs at Cape Thompson.

"It’s got FBI intrigue, it's got nuclear bombs, it's got local Native leaders fighting to get their story heard. It’s a great story from that perspective,” Edwardson said.

“History of the Inupiat: Project Chariot” will be screened for free at 3 p.m. Sunday at the museum.

Audio on the project has been completed, but some film editing is still pending.

Meanwhile, Juneau-based screenwriter Dave Hunsaker has been working with Leonardo DiCaprio on making a big budget movie based on Project Chariot.