Review #439: 'When the Wind Blows' (1986)

Once upon a time the United Kingdom had a television station that broadcast and produced some of the most intelligent, innovative, and interesting film and television - both fiction, and non-fiction. In 1981 Channel Four began broadcasting, and showed the best of world cinema, subversive documentaries and fictions, and even funded some of the most experimental animations of the time. Whilst this is hard to believe in this day and age, when this particular channel broadcasts some of the most bile-inducing, inane programming - essentially pumping sewage into Britain's homes (Big Brother, Supernanny, How Clean is Your House et al), - but it genuinely did (honestly!). I remember fondly their late night showcase for avant-garde world animation, Four-mation (where I was also first introduced to the subversive work of Jan Svankmajer), which also showed the best of new British animation.

Channel Four's 1982 Christmas programming was delighted with an adaptation of Raymond Briggs's The Snowman, with its kid-friendly story of a snowman come-to-life. (Consequently, The Snowman has been shown every Christmas eve since 1982). Briggs was a well respected children's author, who had also written both 'Father Christmas' and the famous 'Fungus the Bogeyman'. In 1982 Briggs published something altogether different. 'When the Wind Blows' used the same graphic novel, illustrative technique to tell the story of a retired couple, Jim and Hilda Bloggs, living in isolation in rural England, dutifully following ludicrous government issue pamphlets, offering advice on how to "survive" a nuclear attack. When this attack becomes imminent, they construct a shelter out of their own doors, paint the windows white, and even climb into paper sacks. Laughably, the pamphlets used in the film were actual official guidelines sent out to British homes in the 1970's (the UK equivalent of "duck and cover").

Whilst not a cheerful story, it was inevitable that this should get green-lit for film production, and director Jimmy T. Murakami (who had previously directed Battle Beyond the Stars (1980), and also the most interesting, and visually innovative section of 1981's Heavy Metal), came on board - with his Japanese roots, he was no doubt attracted to the film for it's anti-nuclear sentiments. The animation in the film has several innovative tricks - it mixes live action objects with the traditional cell animation - giving it a quite unique visual look. After the bomb is dropped we witness the deterioration of this lovable couple - who's naivety, and charming banter are a delight throughout. Veteran actors John Mills and Peggy Ashcroft provide the voices, and give the film real gravitas, and lends the characters their easy, ineffectual magnetism.

The films conclusion should leave anyone in tears, and along with Roger Waters's haunting soundtrack, David Bowie also provides the theme song. This is essential, if somewhat alarming, and tragic film making, and one that will stay with you for a very long time. I first saw this when it was broadcast in 1986, and I have never forgotten its impact, and I still believe that this was one of the things that gave me my view of anti institution, and mistrust of any government authority. And whilst western governments and media outlets aren't reporting on nuclear threats the threat is still a very real one. However, after the fall of Soviet communism in the early 1990's meant that the authorities had to create a new dominant fear to control the masses (a necessary evil), and that of course became Middle-Eastern terrorism.


Directed by: Jimmy T. Murakami
Voices: Peggy Ashcroft, John Mills, Robin Houston
Country: UK

Rating: *****

Marc Ivamy