Showing posts with label Peter Watkins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Peter Watkins. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

434. The War Game

The War Game
1965
Directed by Peter Watkins










We finally reach the end of this...mixed streak of films that I have seen, which means I can finally get back to work after I finish this post.  I am not going to lie: I might drag this out longer than I have to.  That might be difficult since this film is only forty-five minutes, but hey, I'm determined.

This docudrama follows the chain of events that could conceivably happen if the Soviet Union nuked Great Britain.  It actually seems real and I never felt like the filmmakers took an implausible leap.

So like I said, this film is only forty five minutes but of course, it makes you think for a lot longer than that.  I know most people are against nuclear weapons (in fact the only time I spoke in my high school history class when I was protesting the attack on Japan; I was one of those weird kids that sat in the corner and never said anything).  I think most Americans just think it was what we had to do to end the war and it was a tragedy, but one that could have been avoided if the Japanese had heeded our warnings.  I, on the other hand, still panic every once in awhile that America will get a taste of its own medicine and have been obsessively following what is going on in Iran.

Anyway, it's a great film that really makes you think and one that should be required viewing in high school.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Won an Oscar for Best Documentary even though it is fictional.