To think that Chernobyl is not suitable telly for a 9 and 13 year old. At Christmas.

[WakingUp55643]

Dh has put it on to watch, but the kids were in front of the telly too. I haven't seen it myself but I don't think it's really very cheerful, horrifying in fact. Especially at Christmas. I've taken the youngest upstairs out of the way, dh thinks I'm making a fuss over nothing. Am I?

winechateauxjoy yes you are right. The ban on selling sheep in specific areas was only lifted in 2011. Earlier than that in other areas the sheep were moved to low lying areas and sold when the Geiger counter showed they were safe to eat.

Traumatised by an animated movie? Watership down anyone?

I'm clearly not missing much then !

@bettxmascake you are, it’s excellent, abc not as pp described.

@Hidinge 999 emergency etc are mostly reassuring programmes, treatment is often possible & even when people die they have been cared for.

Chernobyl depicts a state covering up a disaster, with horrific deaths where multiple peoples bodies catastrophically degrade and no treatment is possible. Thousands of peoples lives were affected.

It’s history and it’s important but it’s a much more scary prospect than a ‘typical’ death, especially if children have not yet realised the State is not always benign towards its citizens.

I don’t have children but the Cold War was very much a thing when I was at school. I remember doing a project on nuclear weapons in English and as part of my presentation to the class (part of public speaking skills) I showed some slides from Hiroshima or Nagasaki. I was 10. So I don’t necessarily think this is unsuitable viewing for children of that age, certainly a 13-year old.

But maybe the point is that they might not enjoy it, in which case ask your husband to watch it later or on his personal device.

This has prompted me to want to watch Chernobyl again - it's one of the best pieces of TV I have ever watched, I listened to the accompanying podcast and everything, it was just brilliant.

But just not for a 9 year old!

@Sinful8 How the hell does any grown adult say they are "traumatised" by an animated movie the saw as a kid hmm

I take it you never watched ‘Where the Wind Blows’ as a child. Beautifully illustrated by Raymond Briggs (known for the Snowman and Father Christmas) it depicts an old couple who are exposed to a nuclear explosion. Over the following days things start to happen to them, like their teeth falling out. In their naivety they don’t make the connection to radiation exposure. I’m in my 40’s and with the backdrop of the Cold War at the time there was a very real possibility that nuclear weapons could be deployed (as the US had already got form for using them).

You object to the word traumatised being applied to the film above so how about scared shitless?

Yes also to poster who mentioned the animation of Watership Down, the rabbits eyes! Harrowing!

Animation doesn’t always mean Disney endings!

The reactor design wasnt inherently dangerous, the testing program was.

The reactor design isn't great, the test was worse, but the fact the reactor wasn't contained in a dome like every other reactor in the world is, was what really screwed them.

My 13 year old watched it and we discussed it. She enjoyed it and learning

@IamTomHanks

The reactor design wasnt inherently dangerous, the testing program was.

The reactor design isn't great, the test was worse, but the fact the reactor wasn't contained in a dome like every other reactor in the world is, was what really screwed them.

Surely the force of the blast would have ripped open the dome anyway?

We will probably let my 15 yo watch it this holiday as he is interested and it will help him understand how some countries can cover up the truth and I'm not being rascist when I tell him this. Also we have friends in Eastern Europe who potentially still experience the fall out. ( Fully aware that all countries cover up to a certain extent, just I feel that there are differences between the extremes). Wouldn't show it to younger as the scenes in the hospital are so graphic.

I found it hard to watch, but know some of my students saw it from Year 9 upwards. For a mature teen then it wouldn't bother me, for a sensitive teen then it wouldn't be ok to me.

Christmas time doesn't make a difference in my opinion unless you're normally a family who watches endless christmas things in the week up to christmas.

Surely the force of the blast would have ripped open the dome anyway?

A proper dome/containment building should be able to withstand a direct hit from a missile. It should have contained the explosion without issue. Unfortunately it was being kept in the equivalent of a warehouse.

It is one of the best pieces of television ever made in my opinion, but I'd get them to watch it when they're older. There are some very upsetting scenes - particularly in the hospital.

You're not over reacting.

There's some pretty harrowing scenes, and fruity language.

It's certainly not for a 9 year old, no fucking way.

When the Wind Blows traumatised a generation.

I’ve watched it and it was incredible. But even at (nearly) 30 the hospital scene with the firefighter and his fiancé, I can still see in my head. It’s not very nice.

@Hidinge re: 999 programmes - that's taken me back to my childhood! My mum used to let me stay up on a Friday to watch a programme called '999' about emergency situations. I remember one episode about a boy getting a javelin through the neck.

I have to say though, Chernobyl is a different animal. I think it's the realism combined with the unflinching graphic horror of people's skin falling off etc. I think it's probably the most horrific thing I've ever seen.

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant tv but those sequences are far from child friendly. I think at even age 13 I wouldn't have coped with it.