Fountain Theatre brings 'Atomic Fest'

Daily movies Aug. 4-10

Posted Monday, July 31, 2023 7:59 pm

Local historians discuss Trinity Site, first atomic bomb

The Mesilla Valley Film Society (MVFS) will host two renowned local historians – Dave Kirkpatrick and Jim Eckles, to the Fountain Theatre, Saturday, Aug. 5, to “discuss the history and archeology of the Trinity National Historic Landmark and the making of the first atomic bomb,” MVFS said in a news release.

There is no charge to attend the event, which is 2 p.m. Saturday at the Fountain, 2469 Calle de Guadalupe in Mesilla. Early arrival is advised as seating is limited.

The event is part of the MVFS’ “Atomic Fest,” a series of films and lectures exploring the legacy of the atomic bomb that continues at the Fountain Theatre through August.

Kirkpatrick is an archeologist, historian and associate director of research and public education at the Las Cruces nonprofit Human Systems Research, Inc. He has conducted extensive research on the buildings and structures at the Trinity Base Camp and the West 800 Instrumentation Shelter. He will discuss the archeology of the Trinity site, MVFS said.

Eckles is the former public affairs officer for White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) and author of “Pocket Full of Rockets” and “Trinity.” His talk, “Trinity Site, Oppenheimer and the First Atomic Bomb,” is on the history of Trinity Test Site. Eckles retired from a 30-year career at WSMR in 2007 and was elected to the WSMR Hall of Fame in 2013.

A discussion and question-and-answer period will follow the presentations, MVFS said. Both authors will be available following the discussion to sign books.

July 16 was the 78th anniversary of the first test of an atomic bomb at Trinity Site. Aug. 6 is the 78th anniversary of the day the atomic bomb nicknamed “Little Boy” was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan. Aug. 9 is the 78th anniversary of the day the atomic bomb nicknamed “Fat Man” was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan.

MVFS is a nonprofit that has operated at the Fountain Theatre since 1989.

For more information about this presentation and film schedules, visit www.mesillavalleyfilm.org.

The Mesilla Valley Film Society is bringing a series it calls "Atomic Fest" to the Fountain Theatre Aug. 4-11.

The weeklong film festival will showcase films that explore the bomb and its legacy in cinema, including ties to New Mexico, commemorating the Manhattan Project and the Trinity test, and the anniversaries of the bombing of Hiroshima, and Nagasaki in 1945. The curated selection of films serves as a reminder of the significance of the atomic bomb and its ongoing implications for society, MVFS said.

“These events are ingrained in the fabric of New Mexico’s history,” said MVFS president Carol McCall. “We believe that cinema has played an important role in sharing the impact of the atomic bomb in southern New Mexico and in providing context for the worldwide consequences of the nuclear threat.”

MVFS is inviting film enthusiasts and the local community to come together to witness these powerful stories unfold on the big screen.

Films featured at "Atomic Fest" include:

7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4 – “White Light Black Rain,” (2007) A deeply moving documentary that recounts the experiences of survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings.

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 – “Grave of the Fireflies,” An animated masterpiece that tells the heartbreaking story of two siblings struggling to survive in Japan during World War II.

2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6 – “Seven Days in May” (1946)

7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 6 – “I Live in Fear,” A Japanese drama that delves into the psychological impact of nuclear paranoia on an individual and his family, examining the fear and paranoia that gripped society during the Cold War

7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 7 – “Matinee,” (1993)

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8 – “On the Beach,” (1959)

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9 – “Them”

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10 – “Dr. Strangelove,” Stanley Kubrick's satirical masterpiece that explores the absurdity of nuclear warfare, delving into the dark humor and political commentary surrounding the Cold War.

7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11 – “Oppenheimer”

The films culminate upon the Aug. 11 screening of “Oppenheimer,” Christopher Nolan’s epic historical drama. “Oppenheimer” will also run Aug. 12-24. That will be followed by a run of Wes Anderson’s newest film, “Asteroid City,” Aug. 25-31.

Tickets for "Atomic Fest" are available through the Mesilla Valley Film Society's website at mesillavalleyfilm.org.

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