"Watched with my child and was shocked"... 'Oppenheimer' 15+ rating overshadowed by controversy over sexual content [Focus]

Genius Director's Portrait of the Father of the Atomic Bomb
Christopher Nolan Masterpiece... Cinephiles Enthralled

180 Minutes, Black-and-White Barrier "Boring" Criticism
Controversies Over Nudity, Bed Scenes, and Erasure of Women

“I took my elementary school child to the theater thinking it was a story about the scientist who made the atomic bomb, but I was shocked. I didn’t expect a 15+ rated movie to be this explicit...” (Woman in her 30s)

“I thought it might be an educational science film, so I went ahead to watch it before organizing a student group viewing, but I was taken aback. The running time is long, and it feels like female physicists were deliberately erased, so I couldn’t show the movie to middle school students.” (Man in his 40s)

Genius director Christopher Nolan has presented 'Oppenheimer' as his 12th feature film. The movie, which attracted attention from the planning stage, was released on the 15th and garnered interest by selling out most showings in major special theaters such as IMAX during its first weekend.

Some viewers who watched 'Oppenheimer' have expressed bewilderment at the film being different from their expectations. The movie opened domestically on Liberation Day holiday, drawing 550,000 viewers on the first day, but the daily audience dropped to around 140,000 the following day. Reviews of the released film are divided.

'Oppenheimer' still image [Photo by Universal Pictures]

'Oppenheimer' depicts the life of American physicist Julius Robert Oppenheimer. Director Christopher Nolan adapted the biography 'American Prometheus' by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin into a film.

The movie focuses on Oppenheimer’s involvement in the Manhattan Project, the U.S. atomic bomb development program, and the story behind his opposition to the hydrogen bomb.

Nolan, who usually avoids using CGI (special effects), maintained his approach in 'Oppenheimer' as well. It is known that the nuclear explosion scenes were recreated without CGI, which drew attention even before the release.

Nolan’s strength shines through. The film explains who Oppenheimer was while delving into his inner world. It faithfully shows the path to the Trinity nuclear test without interruption, sticking to the basics. The tightly crafted screenplay, which prioritizes cinematic enjoyment, is also impressive. The pacing and direction are excellent. Through depictions of Oppenheimer’s guilt over the original bomb, the film instantly convinces the audience.

The Essence of Nolan’s Theatrical Films vs Black-and-White and 180-Minute Runtime Being Boring

'Oppenheimer' still image [Photo by Universal Pictures]

Christopher Nolan lives up to his name. While many viewers express cinematic satisfaction, perhaps due to high expectations, there are also strong voices of disappointment. 'Oppenheimer' has been embroiled in various controversies since its release.

Adapting vast history and a 4,000-page biography onto the screen, 'Oppenheimer' runs for 180 minutes, or 3 hours. Many viewers complain of fatigue due to the long runtime. The preference for shorter content on recent online video services (OTT), YouTube, and other platforms contrasts with this viewing style, leading to mixed reactions.

Nolan raised the film’s artistic quality by shooting with the industry’s first black-and-white IMAX camera. While some movie fans are enthusiastic about the black-and-white images on the big screen, some viewers accustomed to recent action and comedy films find it less engaging.

The film is practically close to a documentary. Cinephiles who enjoy the essence of cinema may find it entertaining, but those who favor Nolan’s unique worldview and scale might feel differently. The movie is more of a biopic focusing on the scientist’s dilemmas and inner struggles. Critics have noted it evokes Nolan’s early film 'Memento' (2001).

Controversies Over Nudity, Sexual Content, and Female Erasure

'Oppenheimer' received an R rating in North America due to sexual acts, nudity, and language. It is Nolan’s first R-rated film in 21 years since 'Insomnia' (2002), and his first time directing a commercial film with this rating.

The Korea Media Rating Board rated 'Oppenheimer' as suitable for viewers aged 15 and older. Viewers aged 15 and above, equivalent to middle school first graders and older, can watch the film. The problem is that this rating led to parents bringing children to the movie. Parents who watched the film expressed that the rating was inappropriate and felt embarrassed watching it with their children.

'Oppenheimer' still image [Photo by Universal Pictures]

The breast exposure scene of actress Florence Pugh, who plays the role of Jean Tatlock, has been pointed out as problematic. There is consensus that the film contains frequent bed scenes and nudity despite the 15+ rating. Among viewers who watched the movie with underage children, many reviews mention feeling embarrassed and relieved when the scenes ended.

The Korea Media Rating Board explained the rating decision by stating, "Although there were some scenes with relatively high levels of sexual content and drug use, they were not continuously depicted, so the film was rated for viewers aged 15 and above."

Local U.S. media have unanimously pointed out that Nolan deliberately erased women. The film does not mention Marie Curie while dealing with quantum physics, nor does it mention any female physicists who participated in the Manhattan Project, which is seen as unnatural.

There is also criticism that the achievements of real female scientists were erased or reduced to secretarial roles, which many find incomprehensible. In Korea, there are growing voices criticizing the deletion as an intentional disregard for women.