Bombshell: Simply Living’s Film Series Returns
History doesn't just shape our past—it shapes the conversations we'e having today!
Join Simply Living's Film Series at Gateway Film Center for a special screening of BOMBSHELL, a compelling 2026 documentary exploring how the story of the atomic bomb was presented to the public—and the courageous journalists who challenged official narratives and worked to uncover the human cost, even as government censorship limited what could be reported.
Stay for a special panel discussion featuring director Ben Loeterman, producer Gaia de Simoni, and historian Felecia Ross, moderated by Spencer Hunt, Director of Student Media for The Lantern at Ohio State.
The Simply Living BOMBSHELL screening
Gateway Film Center, 1550 North High Street in Columbus
October 26 from 6:30–8:30 PM (doors open at 6:15 PM).
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from Gateway Folm Center.
Come for the film, stay for the conversation, and discover how lessons from history can deepen our understanding of today's world.
More About the Film
Eighty years after two atomic bomb strikes ushered in the nuclear age, BOMBSHELL explores how the US government tried to control the narrative about the atomic bombs dropped on Japan. Through censorship and by co-opting the press, the government presented a benevolent picture of the strikes, minimizing the terrible human toll.
Not every journalist kept to the official version. BOMBSHELL reveals the efforts of a handful of intrepid reporters as they attempted to break through the official narrative and inform the world about the human cost of the bombings. Their perspective underscores the essential role of journalists in crafting a story, as well as what is lost when independent reporting is suppressed.
Directed by Ben Loeterman
Ben Loeterman’s investigation begins at the start of the atomic age, and how the US government developed the first atomic bombs and shaped & presented their story. The film uses archival footage, interviews with historians & scientists, and newly uncovered documents to explore the campaign of persuasion & secrecy surrounding this monumental technological leap.
Official messaging transformed atomic power from a closely guarded secret into a symbol of American power, and downplayed doubts about the possible consequences of its use. The film presents a portrait of the struggle to reconcile national security with democracy.
BOMBSHELL raises questions still relevant today. Who shapes the stories we hear? Whose voices are missing? And why does independent journalism matter in the world of competing narratives? Bombshell challenges audiences to rethink the narratives we inherit and the uneasy alliances between science, government, and the stories that shape the world.