It is even more important to recognise the pervasive and lingering malice that corrodes any society in which fear of some “other” is systematically spread.
It is indeed essential to remind every generation about the excesses of the McCarthy era. In Christopher Nolan’s film, the villain is narrowed down to one person - Lewis Strauss, Chairman of the US Atomic Energy Commission.
Perhaps, filmmaking on an epic scale demands a nemesis versus hero dynamic. The plot of the just-released biopic, Oppenheimer, pivots on intrigues during the McCarthy era which undermined the “Father of the Atom Bomb” and led to him being stripped of his security clearance. But for the moment it is his transition from an American war hero to a suspected communist that is likely to dominate the public imagination. This is the crux of why Oppenheimer will stand out in history as a tragic figure.
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