When the Wind Blows (1986) Review

Jim and Hilda Bloggs (voiced by John Mills and Peggy Ashcroft respectively) are an elderly, married couple who live a life of uneventful tranquillity in the English countryside. One day, their rural idyll is threatened by the news that an ongoing conflict between East and West is likely to escalate into a nuclear war. Armed with official pamphlets issued by the Government, Jim and Hilda set to work on building a shelter and prepare for the impending attack…

As someone who grew up during the darkest, most dangerous days of the Cold War, my personal trifecta of anti-war films of that era consisted of Nicholas Meyer’s US television movie The Day After, Mick Jackson’s terrifying Threads and When The Wind Blows. In terms of graphic nastiness, Jimmy T. Murakami’s animated adaptation of Raymond Briggs’ source material is the polar opposite of that Sheffield-set apocalypse but its message is no less powerful and its climax no less devastating.

From the outset, it’s clear that Jim and Hilda – and by that, token, most of the UK – is woefully ill-equipped to deal with what’s coming, the Protect And Survive information proving a distraction while giving out nonsense information such as constructing an “inner core” of a shelter by propping up doors at a certain angle. The couple, with their lived experience of a previous World War and memories of the Blitz spirit, believe that society will return to normal after a few weeks. Their plan to hole up for the two week, post-bomb period consists of little more than stocking up on bread and milk. Oh, and making sure there’s a supply of tea. What could be more English?

Originally, David Bowie was set to provide the soundtrack for When The Wind Blows but other projects consumed his time so he was only able to contribute the title song. Still, it’s Bowie and the song is predictably brilliant, plus his replacement turned out to be Roger Waters, only a few years down the line from The Final Cut-era Pink Floyd and possibly still smarting from that experience. In many ways, Waters fits the mood of the piece a little better than Bowie, who always had that spark of joy about him even when delivering more downbeat material. Roger Waters, bless him, has an innate ability to turn misery into an art form and his work here is superbly judged, bringing an air of heaviness without being heavy handed.

As almost the entire tale follows Jim and Hilda and no one else, this two-hander required some proven experience in the performance department and the choice of acting royalty such as Mills and Ashcroft lends the production extra weight while showcasing their skill in essaying two pleasant, everyday old folks who believe, heartbreakingly, that rescue is just around the corner. Jim has visions of celebrating his exploits with Field Marshal Montgomery, Hilda daydreams of fanciful flights as a butterfly. As matters progress and the effects of radiation sickness being to take their toll, these asides become darker, imbued with past tragedy and the growing uncertainty of their future.

It’s the attention to detail which elevates When The Wind Blows yet further. The hand-drawn, classic, cosy animation style of our introduction to Jim and Hilda’s world slowly gives way to a mix of other media as the area, and the couple’s home, is laid to waste. At one point, a dog howls in the distance; we never see the animal, nor do we know the extent of its suffering. The effects of fallout on the physical condition are mentioned briefly but seldom seen. A line of description is enough as Jim refuses to believe that their illnesses are anything other than minor and Hilda makes a decision which she passes off as something both practical and a bit of fun but is an extraordinary depiction of the preparation for, and calm acceptance of, what’s to come.

From the era when anti-war films were soaked in the genuinely existential crises of the time, When The Wind Blows makes its point by presenting the lives of two gentle people, with which you could easily identify, and then slowly destroying their environment and bodies over eighty-five minutes. For me, it’s a classic and an ideal title for double billing with the aforementioned Threads. At the end of those two, you’ll want to rush outside for some fresh air. Good job there’s no one mad enough to push the nuclear button these days, eh?

Movie Rating:

When the Wind Blows trailer