Straight Up Reviews: When The Wind Blows

 

In light of the recent events, regarding both the Russian-Ukraine Conflict, as well as the growing tensions between Russia, their Comrades and the rest of the world. I thought I'd look back into some Cold War movies.  Where most people often cite movies like, Full Metal Jacket, Red Dawn, Rocky IV and many many Sean Connery era James Bond movies.  Ironically some of the most underrated gems that revolve around the major woes, such as the consequences of total nuclear destruction, have often taken the back burner.  None so put behind is this movie.  When The Wind Blows.

I first heard about this when Nostalgia Cirtic did a guest spot on Phantom Strider's Top 10 Creepiest Animated Movies.  With this being number 4. However until recently, I never took a good look at this movie.

The movie was adapted from the comic of the same name made by Raymond Briggs, whom just prior, got his claim to fame, by creating the bittersweet Christmas Classic, The Snowman.  So needless to say I don't expect a happy ending in this one.  The theme song was created and performed by David Bowie, while the movie's score is created by Roger Waters.  Whom at this point left Pink Floyd and started his own band called "The Bleeding Heart Band".

The movie is set in Sussex England and revolves around an elderly couple, Jim and Hilda Bloggs.  Taking place around the Soviet-Afghan War as it begins to deteriorate.  After hearing on the Radio that a nuclear strike will hit in Three Days, Jim starts to create a makeshift shelter with supplies to prepare. Using instructions from the controversial pamphlet protect and survive.  They finish just as the strike is 3 minutes away and in a panic, Jim shoves Hilda in the shelter with him, just before the bomb goes off.  Despite seeing the devastation it left behind, the couple remain optimistic and try to make the most out of the situation in hopes that help may arrive for them.

As the food supply is becoming exhausted, they both discover they're dying of radiation poisoning, but despite some lapses, they continue to remain optimistic, despite Hilda suspecting that they are gonna die.  They eventually accept their fates as they put paper bags over their body and spend the rest of their agonized lives talking while they wait for death.

The movie is probably one of the most fucked up things I have ever seen.  The war stuff in it's animated glory, pulls no punches on how absolutely screwed the couple is and that their naivety is just prolonging the inevitable.  

It uses a combination of hand drawn for the characters and live action stop motion for the scenery and props, giving an almost uncanny and somewhat realistic look on just how bad the situation is.  

The fact that this was made by the same guy, who wowed us with a kid on flying adventures with a snowman, makes it all the more disturbing.

With that said, I reccomend it, just because it has to be seen to believe.

Stay safe, stay healthy and hopefully it doesn't get that bad with this shit going on.