Marking the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombing, Atomic Echoes: Untold Stories of World War II, a new documentary from Blue Chalk Media, will air on public television stations nationwide beginning the week of August 1. The film includes rarely seen archival footage and interviews with 100-year-old American veterans who were eyewitnesses to the devastation in the immediate aftermath of nuclear warfare.

Atomic Echoes follows Karin Tanabe and Victoria Kelly, two friends whose families were on opposite sides of the war, as they embark on an emotional journey to uncover their family legacies. Through their exploration, the film sheds light on the enduring scars of the “hibakusha”—the estimated 650,000 Japanese survivors of the bombings and the “atomic veterans”—the estimated 200,000 American soldiers who responded in the immediate aftermath of the bombings. 

Karin Tanabe and Victoria Kelly bring deeply personal connections to this project. Karin is a bestselling historical fiction novelist and former Politico reporter whose great-great-uncle was the first president of Hiroshima University and dedicated his life to peace-building after the bomb. Victoria is an award-winning author and poet whose grandfather, an American atomic veteran who served in Nagasaki, died young, haunted by his experiences.

Directed and produced by Beatrice Becette and executive produced by Greg Moyer, Atomic Echoes was filmed in both Japan and the United States and combines deeply personal storytelling with interviews from the last remaining survivors. The film offers a new perspective on the nuclear age and its lasting consequences, urging reflection and peace as this pivotal anniversary approaches. 

“With Atomic Echoes, we’re preserving the voices of those who have experienced one of history’s most significant and devastating events,” said Greg Moyer. “This story and its lessons are vital, and we’re honored by the trust placed in us by Karin, Victoria, and the survivors who have bravely shared with us.” 

As the remaining survivors enter their later years, Atomic Echoes stands as a powerful testament to their experiences, and a reminder of the human cost of nuclear warfare. The film invites viewers to listen, reflect, and reckon with a past that continues to shape our present. 

For press inquiries, interview requests, or more information, please contact hello@bluechalk.com

Watch the official trailer here.