The War Game
1965
Peter Watkins' The War Game, which was filmed in handheld documentary fashion, speculates on the aftereffects of a nuclear war. Some of the images are almost impossible to look at; they truly illustrate the theory that, in the wake of such a holocaust, the living will envy the dead. The most heartwrenching scene is the simplest... Read more
| Starring | Michael Aspel, Peter Graham |
|---|---|
| Director | Peter Watkins |
| Genres | Drama |
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The War Game
Peter Watkins' The War Game, which was filmed in handheld documentary fashion, speculates on the aftereffects of a nuclear war. Some of the images are almost impossible to look at; they truly illustrate the theory that, in the wake of such a holocaust, the living will envy the dead. The most heartwrenching scene is the simplest. Asked what he wants to be when he grows up, a sullen young boy, physically unhurt but with obviously deep emotional scars, mutters I don't want to be nothin'. Filmed for BBC television, The War Game was rejected by that august concern as being too graphic. The 47-minute film was released to theaters, making it eligible for the Best Documentary Academy Award, which it won in 1966.~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
| Starring | Michael Aspel, Peter Graham |
|---|---|
| Director | Peter Watkins |
| Studio | BFI VIDEO |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 24 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: not available Production year: 1965 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews
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Such was the power of The War Game that the BBC, which produced it, refused to transmit Peter Watkins's film, leaving it to sit on the shelf, gathering dust and notoriety, before a cinema release in 1966. Watkins had already made a name for himself with the savage Culloden and he utilised the same documentary-style techniques to create an image of England in the moments before a nuclear attack. It's a nightmarish blend of Ealing comedy, Dad's Army and those wartime Ministry of Information movies which told you to put a blanket on your window, crawl under a table and pray. View it in the context of 1965 when the Cold War was at its hottest and when the youth of the world awoke each day thinking they would be vaporised at any minute.
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Most helpful member's review
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16 out of 20 people found this review helpful
worth watching but.....
An interesting, well made, and scary exploration of the likely effects of a nuclear strike on Britain during the cold war.
Whilst the film provides a useful reality check on the horrific effects of nuclear war it is shamelessly unilaterist.The film portrays deterrence as an idiotic policy that just invites attack and the catastrophe portrayed in the film.
With the benefit of hindsight mutually assured destruction based deterrence did work. After all, we are all still here.
The film is also flawed by its assumption of moral equivilence between the Warsaw pact dictatorships and NATO democracies. A world dominated by repressive dictatorships unchecked by a disarmed west would't have been worth living in.'Imagine a boot treading on a human face forever'(Orwel I think). -
Most recent members' review
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
As a "historical" artefact this is well worth seeing, but if you're expecting modern effects forget it, this was made in the sixties!
easy to see why the film was originally banned by the government, even in todays climate the subject matter is both relevant, thought-provoking a nd frightening. -
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The War Game
Peter Watkins' The War Game, which was filmed in handheld documentary fashion, speculates on the aftereffects of a nuclear war. Some of the images are almost impossible to look at; they truly illustrate the theory that, in the wake of such a holocaust, the living will envy the dead. The most ...
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