When the Wind Blows Backdrop Blur
When the Wind Blows Poster

When the Wind Blows

"...it's no fairy tale."

With the help of government-issued pamphlets, an elderly British couple build a shelter and prepare for an impending nuclear attack, unaware that times and the nature of war have changed from their romantic memories of World War II.

Top Cast

  • John Mills

    John Mills

    Jim Bloggs (voice)

  • Peggy Ashcroft

    Peggy Ashcroft

    Hilda Bloggs (voice)

  • Robin Houston

    Robin Houston

    Radio Announcer (voice)

  • James Russell

    James Russell

    Russian submariner (voice)

  • David Dundas

    David Dundas

    Additional Voices (voice)

  • Matt Irving

    Matt Irving

    Additional Voices (voice)

  • Bernard Montgomery

    Bernard Montgomery

    Self (archive footage)

  • Harry S. Truman

    Harry S. Truman

    Self (archive footage)

  • Joseph Stalin

    Joseph Stalin

    Self (archive footage)

Overview

With the help of government-issued pamphlets, an elderly British couple build a shelter and prepare for an impending nuclear attack, unaware that times and the nature of war have changed from their romantic memories of World War II.

Rating

7.5 / 10
335 Reviews
2 Popular

1 Reviews

  • tensharpe
    tensharpe
    9 Feb 3, 2023

    “When The Wind Blows” is a heartbreaking, horrendous, portrayal of the fallout following a nuclear attack on the United Kingdom. Based on the book by “The Snowman” creator Raymond Briggs, this film manages to show the full horror of an elderly couples experiences once missiles have struck. Opening with real Cold War era footage accompanied by David Bowie’s haunting theme song, “When The Wind Blows” follows similar animation style to that of Briggs other famous works. ( “The Snowman” , “The Snowman and the Snow Dog” ) Such dark narrative seems unfitting for this animation style but it works perfectly. The innocence of the two main characters as they desperately try to follow official advice while believing their idyllic village life will one day return to normal is heartbreaking. It’s impossible not to warm to Jim and Hilda as they slowly succumb to the effects of radiation sickness and the realisation of what has become of the World they knew.  What is extremely clever is how the narrative incorporates the official United Kingdom protect and survive leaflet issued at the time by the government of the day. This adds realism to the proceedings as Jim and Hilda carry out the instructions in the leaflet, clearly unaware of the absurdity and horror of their situation. Brilliantly written and heightened through the animation the story and premise is starkly worrying today as it was in 1986

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