Defining elements of the Cold War: analysis of the film “Atomica”
The Cold War was a period of political, military, and economic tensions that lasted roughly from the end of World War II in 1945 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. It was characterized by ideological rivalry, primarily between the United States and the Soviet Union, which represented two antagonistic systems: democratic capitalism and authoritarian communism. Although there was no direct combat between the superpowers, the Cold War was marked by an intense arms race, regional conflicts, espionage, propaganda, and competition for global influence. The constant threat of nuclear confrontation and the division of the world into opposing geopolitical blocs were distinctive features of this historical period.
A complex and difficult period to analyze, for which, on this occasion, we are going to rely on the film “Atomica”.
Summary of the movie “Atomic”
“Atomica” is an action and espionage film set in the context of the Cold War, directed by David Leitch and starring Charlize Theron.
The plot follows Lorraine Broughton, a secret MI6 agent, who is sent to Berlin shortly before the fall of the Wall to recover a list containing the names of undercover agents and that could destabilize the balance of power between Western and communist powers. .
In the middle of a city full of deceit and betrayal, Lorraine must face various enemies while trying to fulfill her mission and discover who is behind the murder of another agent.
The film stands out for its impressive action scenes, its stylized cinematography and its political intrigue, keeping the viewer in suspense until the end.
Analysis of the Cold War through the film Atomica
Yes, through movies we can also learn, and with this super production it was not going to be any less. You haven't seen it? It doesn't matter, I'm going to summarize the plot as I analyze it. So, let's get started!
The completion of the Second World War marks the high point of expectations of communism in the system.
The displays of strength of the Soviet Union - from now on, USSR -, its hegemonic and expansive aspirations, together with the abandonment of colonial control by the exhausted European powers in both Asia and Africa, gave rise to the progressive consolidation of the power of the communist parties throughout international society.
Communism was seen as a threat by both Western Europe and the United States, which tried to confront it with the well-known Truman Doctrine.
Thus, In 1947 a state of permanent war tension began between the two superpowers facing each other after the end of the Second World War, which spread between the two blocs formed around their leadership, and which did not cause a direct conflict due to the danger of mutual destruction posed by the existence of nuclear weapons in both sides.
Their governance is distinguished by the objective of expanding each one's radius of influence, and mutual respect for the rival superpower so as not to increase tension with the risk of war.
Diplomatic and Military Strategy
Thus, diplomatic and military strategy that was supported during the Cold War was the containment of the enemy and its expansion; the deterrence of any hostile act, subversion as a means of eliminating political or military authorities who did not accept the rules; and, espionage due to the need to know the activities and decisions of the enemy, as represented in the film proposed to analyze: Atomic.
Film that covers the last days of the Iron Curtain from the espionage of the powers that occupied the German city, Berlin: Soviet Union, United States, United Kingdom and France; represented by the Soviet KGB and the East German Stasi, on the one hand; and, the American CIA, the British MI6 and the French DGSE, on the other.
Lorraine Broughton, a British triple agent, must fulfill her country's mission: recover the stolen spy list. She will collaborate with David Percival, discovered as a double agent.
Thus representing the strength of the USSR over West Germany and its decline until the fall of the wall.
Plot that does not differ, beyond the science fiction characteristic of super spy movies, from the reality that became Berlin after its division in 1949 and which symbolized a bipolar and flexible international system whose international structure revolved around two axes: East-west, political-ideological in nature; and, North-South, of an economic-social nature, where along with the superpowers and their respective blocs are non-aligned actors and the UN, which tries, without success, to be neutral.
In a system divided into two blocks, and with the hegemony of two superpowers, the other States showed the need to carve out a space for themselves and survive.
United States, Great Britain
Thus, the United States, Great Britain, and France need to keep the respective states' agent lists safe to maintain their strength; and, above all, the alliances between the countries of the Western bloc; while for the USSR it is one of the safe passages that it could have used to try to prevent the fall of its system.
Finally, the British agent delivers it to the United States, thus elucidating the goings-on by States during the Cold War to seize power and conflicts between the allied powers themselves.
LL.M in International Business Law and Law from ISDE and graduated in Law and International Relations from Loyola University. CEO and business internationalization consultant at Reáculoateypunto.
