Ever since the clouds of Chernobyl drifted over Turkey in 1986, political leaders have sought to deceive the public about the risks of radiation, insisting that it posed no harm to human health. The absurdity of their statements—claims like “a little radiation is good for you,” “radioactive tea tastes better,” “radiation strengthens bones,” or “your household propane tank is just as risky as nuclear”—epitomizes the uniquely alla turca approach to nuclear discourse. These contradictions, intertwined with Turkey’s nuclear history dating back to the 1930s, have shaped the tragicomic essence of Nuclear alla Turca. In this documentary, we bring to light these little-known stories, offering an unsettling yet darkly humorous reflection on the country’s nuclear narrative.

Together with archival materials, animations by Cem Dinlenmiş, and Mozart’s Rondo alla Turca(a.k.a. ‘Turkish March’), reportedly inspired by the Ottoman Janissary marching band, we envision Nuclear alla Turca as a feature-length documentary that will make viewers think, laugh, and, ultimately, leave them both amazed and horrified.

Through a mix of historical absurdities, firsthand testimonies, and striking visuals, the film will unravel Turkey’s long and often surreal relationship with nuclear energy. By juxtaposing political rhetoric with real-life consequences, Nuclear alla Turca will expose the contradictions, misguided optimism, and sometimes willful ignorance that have shaped the country’s nuclear narrative.

This is a story of comedy and catastrophe, of misplaced confidence and tragic miscalculations—a story that, while deeply Turkish, resonates far beyond its borders.

Turkey stands at a critical crossroads: for the first time in its history, it is on the verge of either becoming a nuclear energy-producing country or abandoning its nuclear ambitions altogether—just as many others have. The country has signed agreements with Russia (see: Chernobyl) to build its first nuclear plant in Mersin-Akkuyu and with Japan (see: Fukushima) for a second in Sinop-İnceburun. Yet, even the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)—an institution dedicated to promoting nuclear energy—has warned of Turkey’s inadequate nuclear infrastructure. Meanwhile, polls conducted after the 2011 Fukushima disaster show that at least 65% of the Turkish population opposes the construction of nuclear power plants.

As we find ourselves at this nuclear crossroads—bombarded with Akkuyu Nuclear advertisements and propaganda infiltrating even schools—we set out to make this film for several reasons: to ask, How did we get here?; to critically examine nuclear energy; and to uncover Turkey’s often unsettling, sometimes tragicomic, and largely absurd nuclear history. Above all, we aim to amplify public discourse on a matter that will shape our collective future.

In the face of a nuclear lobby armed with a multi-million dollar propaganda machine, raising awareness is only possible with collective effort. Join us in making this documentary—let’s tell this story together!