Let There Be Light (2017) Online

Let There Be Light was generally well-received during its world premiere at Austin's SXSW Film Festival. It raises some vitally important issues about the massive scientific endeavor of trying to develop nuclear fusion technology which if perfected could solve the world's energy issues almost overnight and end our dependency on fossil fuels. It is a tantalizing possibility that international researchers have been quietly working on for decades. The film raises some important and fundamental questions. It also examines some of the bureaucratic and political hurdles (including some utterly clueless members of the U.S. Congress) that have undermined the research.

Unfortunately, it also meanders a bit through different research projects without clearly explaining why the various scientific approaches really matter. While it is a fairly accessible introduction to the subject for a lay person, it seems to go off in too many different tangents. Much of the film is not particularly visually interesting with a lot of shots of scientific talking heads in laboratories. Still, this is an important research which needs to be funded and in a country deeply lacking in scientific knowledge that recently seems to be rejoicing in its own ignorance, the film is quite worthwhile. This important research has a better chance of being properly funded if more Americans at least gain a basic understanding of what fusion is and why it is so important. I hope the film gets distribution so more people can learn about this important research.

The story of dedicated scientists working to build a small sun on Earth, which would unleash perpetual, cheap, clean energy for mankind. After decades of failed attempts, a massive push is now underway to crack the holy grail of energy.

Proving just how ignorant of science people in America are, this reviewer did not even knowing there were massive, multi-billion dollar functional fusion machines in existence. The word "fusion" is usually followed up with "is impossible", and for those who want to escape fossil fuels, the conversation turns to wind, solar and hydroelectric.

This film, which screens July 27 at the Fantasia International Film Festival, re-injects fusion into the conversation. Not only do we see that it is possible, it is really quite inevitable. The only factors are (as always) money and time. But the future is now.

All the information presented in this documentary would have been better presented in 30 -35 min. I guess it's only fitting that a project that will never be finished be represented by a film that seams to be heading in the same direction. When a research project such as ITER requires a budget of 300million Euros / year for it's administration budget - it's time to pull the plug. I'm a proud American of European decent - But.... The Chinese have thrown the gauntlet down with the announcement that they are going to build a fusion reactor. They will have started a decade behind ITER and will finish long before ITER... At a fraction of the cost!