Our take
The series follows three perspectives: a government official, a Tokyo Electric Power Company employee, and a worker at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, each with their respective teams tackling the aftermath of the March 11, 2001 earthquake and tsunami. From the reporting updates to the public to the dedication of first responders, ‘The Days’ excels at piecing together the macro- and micro-decisions that went into saving the residents of Fukushima. The series deepens the narrative to be more than a mere recollection with its scenes of the families of the victims and the residents as they evacuate their homes. Its steady pace, emotional close-ups, and suspenseful score capture the harrowing atmosphere of Japan’s worst natural disaster.
What it won
Berlin
1 nom
The story
Blamed by some, hailed as heroes by others, those involved with Fukushima Daiichi face a deadly, invisible threat — an unprecedented nuclear disaster.
The story of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster from the perspectives of those who were directly involved
Employing slow-motion sequences, suspenseful scores, and long eye-level shots allowed the impact of the disaster to sink in. It tempered the rush and panic, giving viewers enough time to experience how long the days felt. Moments of lingering eye contact (or something as simple as following a hose as it fills with water) highlighted the worries and the seeds of hope in every person fighting to save Fukushima. The overall cinematography and editing were imbued with emotion and respect, making it much more than a fictional retelling.
As detailed and thoughtful of a series on the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident one could hope for
The details
Streaming arrival
Who picked it
Kerine Wint is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. When she’s not absorbed in anime and weird docu-series, she reviews speculative fiction for Fiyah Lit Magazine or designs album covers and magazines. As for her film taste, One Cut of the Dead (2017), The Lure (2015), Inu-Oh (2021), and Dear Ex (2018) sum it up pretty well.
Excellent movie. I watched the entire program over a two day period. The acting is good and the scenes are riveting. Slow motion special effects and close ups on actors add to the tension and anxiety you feel throughout all the episodes. The only criticism I have is the very end with the narration of the days following the incident are repetitive and choppy and take away from the prior episodes. I give it a 8 out of 10.