Laughter faded on the Marshall Islands’ paradise after the first bomb detonated at Bikini Atoll, the first peace time test of an atomic weapon 80 years ago. Then the attempted cleanup 21 years after the last test was futile, as this documentary illustrates.

In “Too Late to Learn“ we delve into the effects of nuclear fallout from US military and civilian participants who give us stories of their lived experiences in the Marshall Islands, where testing of nuclear weapons were performed.

Navy veteran Herschel McFarland’s tells stories of his time in the 1946 Operation Crossroads plutonium bomb tests at Bikini atoll in the Marshall Islands and the aftermath of his radiation exposure, especially the impact on his children. Paul Griego’s part in the brave yet fruitless mission 21 years after the last bomb test to clean up Enewetak Atoll reflects the challenges faced by those trying to rectify the past. We also learn of Navy veteran F. Lincoln Grahlfs, and Pastor Paul Lokebol Swington, whose lives have been forever altered by the shadow of atomic testing. Pastor Swington sheds light on a painful legacy, sharing the heart-wrenching story of his ancestors from Bikini Atoll who were displaced, their home forever quarantined. F. Lincoln Grahlfs reveals his personal trauma and tells what he discovered after reaching out to others affected.

Together, these voices create a powerful mosaic, inviting viewers to reflect on the broader implications of these historical events.