In the Matter of J. Robert Oppenheimer

In 1954, the prominent atom physicist J.R. Oppenheimer must testify to an American investigative committee. He is accused of delaying the development of the hydrogen bomb and being a Communist sympathiser. Although he is self-confident at the beginning, doubts about where his loyalties lie begin to creep up on Oppenheimer, but they are of a different nature than the accusations against him. We see the schizophrenia of the scientist who built the bomb then fought its use. Kipphardt made use of almost exclusively authentic material for his play, which was made into a film with global success. Kipphardt condenses Oppenheimer’s trial into an exemplary case that focuses on the responsibility of the scientist in modern society.