The Sorcerer's Apprentice (1996): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1996, The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a documentary and drama film directed by André Gazut, running about 62 minutes.

What it’s about. 60 years ago, in the Algerian desert, an atomic bomb, equivalent to three or even four times Hiroshima, exploded. Named the “Blue Gerboise”, it was the first atomic bomb tested by France, and of hitherto unrivaled power. This 70 kiloton plutonium bomb was launched in the early morning, in the Reggane region, in southern Algeria, during the French colonial era. If this test allowed France to become the 4th nuclear power in the world, it had catastrophic repercussions. France had, at the time, certified that the radiation was well below the standard safety threshold. However, in 2013, declassified files revealed that the level of radioactivity had been much higher than announced, and had been recorded from West Africa to the south of Spain.

Who’s in it. The Sorcerer's Apprentice stars Jean Vautrin as Self.

How it landed. With an audience score of 10.0/10, The Sorcerer's Apprentice sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Sorcerer's Apprentice page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Sorcerer's Apprentice tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.