Christopher Nolan Talks about "Oppenheimer," His First Romantic Film in His Career: Reasons Behind the Necessity of Filming

In a recent interview, Christopher Nolan discussed how "Oppenheimer" marked the first time in his two-decade-long career that he filmed a romantic scene. He emphasized the importance of challenging oneself and stepping into unexplored territories with appropriate nervousness, caution, and thorough preparation.

Nolan also explained the reason for including this particular scene: The passionate relationship between physicist Robert Oppenheimer (played by Cillian Murphy) and doctor Jean Tatlock (portrayed by Florence Pugh). Despite Oppenheimer's marriage to Katie Oppenheimer (played by Emily Blunt), he maintained a connection with Tatlock, who had ties to the American Communist Party, significantly impacting their lives. Nolan aims to portray their love transcending political boundaries through this intimate scene. He believes that understanding Oppenheimer's sexuality, his way of relating to women, and his charisma is crucial to fully grasp this essential aspect of his life.

This decision also resulted in "Oppenheimer" being classified as an R-rated film, the first one for Nolan since "Insomnia" 20 years ago. The film has already passed censorship in mainland China, with the release date pending, and the movie remains uncut, though certain scenes will receive special treatment.