1986’s When the Wind Blows stands as a potent cautionary tale from the Cold War era, and it delivers a message that is still relevant today.
What Is It?
This animated film is based on the graphic novel written and drawn by Raymond Briggs, and it tells the tale of an elderly couple, Jim and Hilda Bloggs, living in rural England in the days just before and immediately after a nuclear attack on the country. When they hear about the impending attack, they make all of the preparations according to the instructions in the Civil Defense “Protect and Survive” pamphlet. Then after the bombs hit, they continue to rely on this resource to guide them as they also patiently wait for the government to contact the citizens and tell them that things have returned to normal.
Cast: Peggy Ashcroft, John Mills, Robin Houston
Crew: Jimmy T. Murakami (Director), Raymond Briggs (Writer), Roger Waters (Music)
Original Release: 1986 (United Kingdom), 1988 (United States)
Legacy:
This movie did not get a lot of attention upon its initial release, but it stands as a potent reminder of the nuclear fears from the Cold War days and acts as a cautionary tale that still has relevance.
A Closer Look:
This odd little animated movie came out at the height of the Reagan-era Cold War days prior to the fall of the Iron Curtain when the threat of nuclear destruction still loomed heavy over the world (and no folks, it hasn’t gone away). The film adopts a rather unique animation style as the characters are brought to life with typical, line-drawn animation while their house and the other surroundings are depicted mostly with real-life objects (miniatures, I believe) and animated with stop-motion when they move. The film also boasts a soundtrack led by Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters (accompanied by The Bleeding Heart Band) and with contributions from David Bowie (who sings the title song), Genesis, Squeeze, and Paul Hardcastle. But the soundtrack is not the highlight of the film, as it remains mostly in the background. Instead, this movie succeeds because of its story and the irony and tragedy that unfolds throughout its relatively short 84-minute running time.
(Mild spoilers ahead)
Jim and Hilda Bloggs are an elderly couple who have a very grandparent-like demeanor in such a way that the viewer can easily relate to them as if they were beloved aged relatives of their own. The two make a pleasant pair, even if they seem somewhat naïve while at the same time hard-headed and set in their ways. They also have a bit of that British stiff-upper-lip about them that leads them to stubbornly soldier on through the hard times that befall them. That ultimately results in their undoing while at the same time the viewer feels a growing despair as if witnessing the last days of dying loved ones.
There have been many movies that have dealt with nuclear destruction, some brilliant (Dr. Strangelove, Fail-Safe), some not so much (Damnation Alley). But few have achieved the same emotional impact of When the Wind Blows as it proceeds from such a simple premise yet delivers such a gut-wrenching blow by the time the final credits roll. This movie is definitely a condemnation of Civil Defense procedures, but it also delivers a stark depiction of the true consequences and potential horrors of a nuclear attack. And it does this not by resorting to shock tactics or gore, but by irony and directness as we watch the deterioration of the two main characters.
The Bloggs have the utmost faith in their government, and they survived World War II, so they blindly assume that things will get back to normal eventually just like in the 1940s. They go about their business as best they can after the attack occurs and believe that the Civil Defense instructions give them all the information they need to weather out this storm. We can see their misguided actions almost from the beginning, yet only watch in despair as the inevitable approaches. And the final scene of the movie delivers probably one of the most heart-breaking moments in the history of film, even if it has unfairly never been recognized for this. If you can sit through that without shedding a tear, you need to check for a pulse or see if there is an empty alien seedpod in your backyard. This quote from a review of the movie on Amazon.com says it all: “I’m a horror film fan entertained by the likes of Fulci, Argento, D’Amato, Lenzi, et al, but the ending to this movie is shocking beyond anything those guys could produce.”
The film runs less than an hour and a half and it is rather slowly paced. But that is broken by occasional moments of ironic humor, and we also find ourselves drawn into the film by the appealing demeanor of the Bloggs as well as the tension and urgency surrounding their fate. When the Wind Blows (undeservingly) received very little attention in the United States upon its release in 1988, a time when its message should have resonated deeply with audiences. And it has failed to garner much attention in the years since, possibly in part because of the end of the Cold War. But this is definitely an important film with a sad yet lyrical quality to it and a message that transcends its era and still should strike a nerve in a world rife with global tension and not yet completely safe from the threat of a nuclear attack.
Should It Be Rebooted?
No, a reboot of this film is not needed as it stands as a classic (even though it has received very little recognition). I could see a desire to update the animation so that it fits in better with what the modern viewer expects, and maybe that would work if they stuck to the original script. But I believe that it is fine as is and should be required viewing for all political leaders (followed by a review session to explain to them what they just watched).
Interesting Facts:
After the end credits, Morse Code can be heard in the background spelling out the word MAD. That stands for “Mutually Assured Destruction” which was a Cold War doctrine that posited if an enemy had sufficient nuclear retaliation capabilities, both sides would surely lose in the event of an attack.
The look and feel of the setting is based on the Protect and Survive public information films which were released by the British government between 1974 and 1980 and were designed to show people how to protect themselves in the event of a nuclear attack. The pamphlet that the Bloggs use as a guide also refers to the Protect and Serve program.
Where Can You Watch It?
The film was released on both VHS and DVD, but has since gone out of print. It is available to stream for free (with ads) on services like Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, and FreeVee.
