Oppenheimer

The film begins with J. Robert Oppenheimer facing a security hearing, questioning his loyalty amid suspicions of communist ties. The scene sets the tone for the story, highlighting the political tensions during the Cold War and Oppenheimer's growing internal conflict over his work on nuclear weapons.

Oppenheimer starts his studies at Cambridge under Patrick Blackett. He demonstrates his rebellious nature by injecting potassium cyanide into Blackett's apple before attending a lecture by Niels Bohr. His actions reveal his curiosity and daring in the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

Oppenheimer personally meets Niels Bohr after his daring act and impresses him with his knowledge. Bohr advises Oppenheimer to broaden his education and study elsewhere to feel less restrained, encouraging his development as a physicist.

Oppenheimer moves to the University of Göttingen to pursue his PhD, where he interacts with renowned physicists like Isidor Rabi and Werner Heisenberg. These encounters influence his scientific perspective and inspire his future work in theoretical physics.

Returning to the US, Oppenheimer begins teaching at Berkeley. His interactions with students and colleagues, including Nobel laureates, help establish his reputation as a prominent scientist. He starts gaining recognition in academic circles.

Oppenheimer attends communist gatherings with his brother and meets Jean Tatlock, with whom he has an affair. He also becomes involved with leftist political groups and supports the Spanish Revolution, raising suspicions among his peers regarding his political allegiance.

Oppenheimer marries Kitty Puening after she leaves her marriage. They have a son, Peter, but their relationship is troubled by her alcoholism. Oppenheimer's personal life becomes tumultuous amid his growing political and scientific commitments.

During World War II, General Leslie Groves recruits Oppenheimer to lead the Manhattan Project at Los Alamos. He begins assembling a team of prominent scientists to develop the atomic bomb in secret, marking a major turning point in his career.

The team conducts the first successful test of the atomic bomb, known as the Trinity Test. Oppenheimer witnesses the explosion, famously recalling the phrase, 'Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds,' symbolizing the destructive power they have unleashed.

Following the success of the Trinity Test, the US drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending WWII but causing immense destruction and loss of life. Oppenheimer begins to grapple with guilt over the devastating consequences.

As the Cold War intensifies, suspicion grows around Oppenheimer’s political associations, including his past communist ties and relationships with figures like Chevalier. The government begins to scrutinize him, leading to hearings that threaten his career.

Oppenheimer faces a Senate security hearing where his former associates testify against him, citing leftist political activities. His loyalty is questioned after revelations about his relations with Chevalier and others, culminating in revoking his security clearance.

Jean Tatlock dies by apparent suicide after their affair ends, adding emotional turmoil to Oppenheimer’s life. His wife Kitty also struggles with addiction, and their relationship becomes increasingly strained amidst the political pressures.

Despite pressures to develop even more powerful hydrogen bombs, Oppenheimer advocates for arms control and restraint. His stance puts him at odds with military and political leaders during the escalating Cold War tensions.

In his later years, Oppenheimer reflects on the destructive potential of nuclear weapons. He receives the Enrico Fermi Award in 1963, and visions of global nuclear catastrophe haunt him, emphasizing the existential threat of his scientific work.