Chernobyl

About Chernobyl

The mini-series 'Chernobyl' is a gripping, five-part drama series that was aired by HBO in 2019. The series explores the infamous real-life events surrounding the catastrophic nuclear explosion that occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, in April 1986. It depicts the sacrifice and heroism of those who risked their lives to minimize the disastrous aftermath of the explosion.

Making / Production

Produced by HBO and Sky UK, 'Chernobyl' took almost ten years from conception to broadcast. It was filmed on location in Lithuania and Ukraine. The series has been lauded for its attention to historical detail in production design and visual effects.

Actors

• Jared Harris portrayed Valery Legasov - he delivered an incredibly moving and unforgettable performance of a Soviet scientist working tirelessly against time and his own government.
• Stellan Skarsgard played Boris Shcherbina - Skarsgard played the role of a government official with subtlety and depth, shedding light on the internal struggles of those in power during the disaster.
• Emily Watson as Ulana Khomyuk - Watson portrayed a fictional character representing the multitude of scientists who helped contain the disaster.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The actual recording of the final emergency warning message of the power plant plays at the end of each episode.
• The series creator, Craig Mazin, started a podcast to go with each episode, to explain what is factual and what was created for the purpose of storytelling.
• The rooftop scene was shot with a maximum of 90 seconds filming at a time, due to the high radiation levels.

Awards

'Chernobyl' won a remarkable collection of awards, including the Golden Globe for Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited Series.

Quotes

• "What is the cost of lies? It's not that we'll mistake them for the truth. The real danger is that if we hear enough lies, then we no longer recognize the truth at all."
• "Every lie we tell incurs a debt to the truth. Sooner or later that debt is paid."
• "The people who once lived there did not have the luxury of fiction, it is they we should listen to...The dead."

Music / Soundtrack

• The series features a haunting and atmospheric score by Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir.
• The score prominently features sounds created from field recordings at an actual nuclear power plant.