When the Wind Blows (1986)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Jimmy T. Murakami

Writers:

Raymond Briggs (book)
Raymond Briggs (script)

Release Date:

11 March 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Animation | Drama | War

Tagline:

...It's No Fairy Tale

Plot:

With the help of government-issued pamphlets, an elderly British couple build a shelter and prepare for an impending nuclear attack...

Plot Keywords:

Radiation Sickness | English Countryside | Cold War | Nuclear War | Married Couple

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Peggy Ashcroft	...	Hilda Bloggs (voice)
John Mills	...	Jim (voice)
Robin Houston	...	Announcer (voice)
James Russell
David Dundas
Matt Irving

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

UK:PG | Germany:6 (DVD) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-10 | Sweden:7

Company:

Meltdown Productions

Quotes:

Announcer: We are now interrupting this broadcast for an official government announcement. An enemy missile attack has been launched against this country. It is estimated that the missles will arrive in approximately three minutes. Three minutes.
Jim: God almighty, Ducks! There's only three minutes to go!
Hilda: Oh dear! I'll just get the wash in.
Jim: Come back you stupid bitch, and get in the shelter!
Hilda: How dare you talk to me like that, James!
Jim: Shut up and get in!
Hilda: There's no need to forget your manners just because there's a war on.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The 100 Greatest War Films (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Folded Flags

Blimey, ducks - there's only three minutes to go....

This film is an amazing contrast: its extremely dark subject matter is totally belied by the beautifully-drawn backdrops and sweet cartoon style. As adult animations are so rare this style grabs you at once, and it is impossible not to be gripped. Anyone who doesn't remember the Cold War should note that the advice about the doors and painting the windows white was the true advice at the time. Where this film is so effective is its perfect charicatures of elderly folk determined to keep the British stiff upper lip, with no idea about nuclear weapons. My grandparents are exactly like this couple, I could see my nan also bringing in the washing during the four-minute warning. We never see the couple's son but his refusal to adhere to the government's "Protect & Survive" advice, singing the Tom Lehrer song down the phone to his father, is a far more realistic attitude towards what is about to happen. Living only 12 miles from London when I first saw this film I was inclined to agree with the son (and still do). Although the geopolitical map of the world is different now this is still an immensely valuable film as it shows what the risks were during the Cold War and is a chilling reminder that although the Cold War may be over, the weapons are still here. It could not be more different in presentation to the equally brilliant but far more horrifying Threads - but the message is the same.