When the Wind Blows
Directed by Jimmy T. Murakami
Based on a Book by Raymond Briggs
Channel Four Films
Premiered 1986

An old so-very-rural couple try to survive the best they can when a couple hundred megatons of nuclear weapons lay waste to the British countryside. If this concept doesn't scream 'Roger Waters', what does ? Spoilers ahoy, kids.

Anyhoo, this animated film (based on a graphic novel by Raymond Briggs) appeared at the end of 1986, on the tail end of the rush of post-nuclear movies that infested the early eighties. It focuses almost entirely on Jim and Hilda, an pair of old marrieds living somewhere in the UK. The only other 'characters' to appear are the occasional looming submarine, B-52, or sketchy-looking butterfly.

The film begins with Hilda puttering around the kitchen and her doddering old husband Jim listening to the radio for updates on 'the international situation', which is apparently worsening to the point of all-out nuclear war. Jim finds a copy of the legendary 'Protect and Survive' pamphlet and painstakingly follows all of the instructions in it, largely just so the viewer can sit back and go "ha ha ha, look at what stupid advice that is, ha ha ha." While he does this, Hilda starts dinner, does the laundry, and has the occasional beautifully-animated (if largely pointless) daydream sequence and waxes nostalgic with Jim about their family bomb shelters during World War II. They share some wistful memories of Churchill and, well, seemingly expect to have a grand old time if war breaks out.

However, despite the fact that Hilda has a roast in the oven, the umbrella DOES go up, leaving the house a frightful scorched mess. The two try to go about life normally afterwards, with predictable results. The clean water eventually disappears (horror ! what will they do come tea time ?) and Hilda just can't stop vomiting. The two step out for some fresh air and to survey the scorched, blackened landscape (which Jim says will look "lovely in the spring". They debate what fallout looks like while Jim collects pots of radioactive rainwater for drinking and cooking, all in front of a pair of melted milk bottles (an homage to the vastly-superior 'Threads', I would wager). The couple slowly get sicker, while naively insisting that the emergency services will arrive soon with the "antidote" and blaming the open sores that have sprouted on their bodies on "too much tinned food". Hilda notices her hair falling out, so the two weakly crawl back into their lean-to and begin to pray (a pitiful amalgam of stuff Jim makes up and the 23rd Psalm. Roll credits.

Despite the acclaim some award to this film (as evidenced by its' rating on the IMDB), it's not really all that great. The novelty of a story of nuclear horror being told by what looks like a storybook quickly wears thin, and the characters are just too one-dimensional and naive to really hook you. That being said however, the very ending is rather effective, and while their naivety is unbelievable it is somewhat sweet.

Anyway, the reason this film is even reviewed on this page is because it was scored by none other than our favorite post-apocalyptic fluffy bunny Roger Waters. I would imagine even the hardcore Waters fetishist would be slightly disappointed, as his score seemingly consists almost entirely of military-style drums. 'Hilda's Hair' is the only remotely memorable bit of it, aside from the version of 'Folded Flags' that accompanies the credits (which is a largely overlooked, but excellent part of the Waters solo canon). The other highlight from the soundtrack album, 'Towers of Faith', is nowehere to be seen.

In the final analysis, none but the most hardcore Waters geeks or nuke nerds would find this essential. It is an okay film, but those seeking a poignant film about nuclear holocaust are advised to go for less-tepid 'The Day After', the wrenching 'Testament', or the horrific 'Threads' instead. If it's only Waters you're after, don't expect more than a taste.

Protect and Survive ?

The Attack

"God Hilda, stop quoting 'Amused to Death' already"