Overview
Timelines
Overview and main events
Early Life and Education of J. Robert Oppenheimer
The Manhattan Project and the Development of the Atomic Bomb
Personal Life and Relationships
The Film 'Oppenheimer' - Production and Release
Technological Innovations and Cinematic Techniques
Key Plot Points
Chronicle
Articles
Oppenheimer (film). Key Plot Points
Key Plot Points
The 2023 biographical drama film "Oppenheimer," directed by Christopher Nolan, delves into the complex and tumultuous life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American theoretical physicist who played a pivotal role in the development of the first nuclear weapons during World War II. The film navigates through multiple timelines, intertwining Oppenheimer's personal struggles, professional achievements, and the profound ethical dilemmas he faced.
1925-1926
Early Studies at Cambridge
The film begins with J. Robert Oppenheimer as a 22-year-old doctoral student at the University of Cambridge, where he studies experimental quantum physics under Patrick Blackett. This period is marked by Oppenheimer's anxiety and homesickness, as well as a tense relationship with Blackett, culminating in an incident where Oppenheimer leaves a poisoned apple for his teacher.
1928
Meeting Isidor Rabi
Oppenheimer meets fellow scientist Isidor Isaac Rabi, a significant figure in his future career. This encounter sets the stage for his transition to theoretical physics, advised by visiting scientist Niels Bohr to study at the University of Göttingen in Germany
1936-1940
Relationships and Academic Career
Oppenheimer begins a tumultuous on-again, off-again relationship with Jean Tatlock, a communist psychiatrist. In 1939, he meets Katherine "Kitty" Puening, a biologist and ex-communist, and they start a relationship. By 1940, Kitty is pregnant, leading to her quick divorce and marriage to Oppenheimer.
1942
Recruitment to the Manhattan Project
Leslie Groves recruits Oppenheimer to join the Manhattan Project, a top-secret military operation aimed at developing the world's first nuclear weapons. Oppenheimer is named director of the project's Los Alamos Laboratory in New Mexico.
1943-1944
Work at Los Alamos
Oppenheimer and his team work tirelessly at Los Alamos, recruiting other scientists and establishing the base of operations. During this period, his second child, Katherine ("Toni"), is born in Los Alamos. Tragedy strikes when Jean Tatlock takes her own life in January 1944, deeply grieving Oppenheimer.
July 16, 1945
Trinity Test
The film culminates in the successful detonation of the atomic bomb during the Trinity test. This event marks a pivotal moment in Oppenheimer's life, as he witnesses the power of his creation.
August 1945
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings
Following the Trinity test, the atomic bombs are deployed in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Oppenheimer grapples with the ethical implications and the devastating consequences of his work, leading to a profound sense of guilt and responsibility
October 1945
Meeting with President Truman
After the atomic bombings, Oppenheimer meets with President Harry S. Truman, expressing his feelings of responsibility and guilt. This meeting highlights the tension between Oppenheimer's personal remorse and the political landscape of the time.
1947
Director of the Institute for Advanced Study
Lewis Strauss, a trustee at Princeton’s Institute for Advanced Study, offers Oppenheimer the position of director. Oppenheimer accepts and works at Princeton, interacting with notable figures like Albert Einstein.
1949
Congressional Hearing and AEC Meeting
Oppenheimer humiliates Lewis Strauss during a Congressional hearing, intensifying their rivalry. Later, an emergency AEC meeting is held to evaluate the Soviet Union’s nuclear threat, further straining relations between Oppenheimer and Strauss.
1950-1953
Opposition to the Hydrogen Bomb
Oppenheimer lobbies against the development of the hydrogen bomb, which puts him at odds with Strauss and other proponents. This period is marked by increasing tension and political maneuvering against Oppenheimer.
November 7, 1953
Borden's Letter
William Borden submits a letter accusing Oppenheimer of being a communist and a security threat, leading to the revocation of Oppenheimer's security clearance. This event is orchestrated by Strauss and Kenneth Nichols, using the FBI's file on Oppenheimer.
1953-1954
Security Clearance Hearing
Oppenheimer undergoes a hearing to appeal the decision, which ultimately results in the loss of his security clearance. This period is depicted through the black-and-white timeline, focusing on Strauss's Senate confirmation hearing and his role in Oppenheimer's downfall.
November 1963
Enrico Fermi Award
In the final scene, Oppenheimer receives the Enrico Fermi Award from President Lyndon Johnson, a lifetime achievement scientific medal. This ceremony takes place shortly after JFK's assassination and is attended by many of his former friends and colleagues.
