The nuclear war has always been a terrifying issue that most people avoid, but with the escalation of global tensions, it is visible to the possibility of its outbreak as a source of concern and a topic that raises curiosity at the same time.
And because the cinema has repeatedly sheds light on this experience, especially during the cold war tensions in the eighties of the last century, we review in the following the most prominent films whose makers have tried to embody this nightmare that threatens the annihilation of humanity.
At a time when nuclear arsenals are still existing, these films are touched by the alarm, stressing that the annihilation is not a myth but rather an imminent technical possibility. It is not just films about war, but a mirror that reflects the fragility of civilization on the one hand, and on the other hand, the ability of art to formulates collective concerns in visual images shakes the conscience and human conscience.
If you want to watch the cinema, it alerts you instead of wiring, then this list must be a starting point:
1- “Dr. Strangeloove) movie
Among the most prominent works in this context is the movie “Dr. Strengovov”, directed by Stanley Cubrick, known for using elaborate visual structures and wide angles to highlight the fragility of characters in the face of the world.
The film was released in 1964 and was nominated for 4 Oscars, and was ranked 78th in the list of the 250 best films in the history of cinema. The film dealt with the idea of mutual destruction and the absurdity of the nuclear armament race in a satirical style that relied on black and symbolic comedy that reflects male anxiety in a world that is about to explode under the madness of the political and military institutions.
“I love ‘Fail Safe’ (1964) by Sidney Lumet. It makes me so depressed.”
— Barry Sonnenfeld pic.twitter.com/eCS6G8FbOV
— DepressedBergman (@DannyDrinksWine) December 10, 2024
2- “Fail Safe” movie
In the same year, Sydney Lumit, known for his devotion to social and political realism, presented his film “Safe Failure”, which came with a bleak and serious vision. It revolves around a technical imbalance that leads to a US bomber’s trend towards the Soviet Union, so the American President (Henry Fonda) has been forced to make tragic decisions.
Fonda embodied the struggle of the statesman in front of a catastrophe achieved with a performance characterized by tragic calm and cohesion, reflecting the internal tension between what is human and what is functional.
3- “The War Game” movie
The BBC has decided to prevent the screening of the documentary “War Game” from 1966 to 1985, due to its extreme realistic realistic and not suitable for television broadcasting. Nevertheless, the movie won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Film, along with the BAFTA Awards.
For just 48 minutes, the film reviewed the effects of nuclear strikes on the city of Kent and its residents, revealing the falsehood of the British Civil Defense Plan.
4- “The Day after) movie
The movie “The Next Day”, which was shown in 1983, discussed influential scenes of nuclear Holocaust and radiation, and the collapse of public services, and was seen by more than 100 million people, and led to political discussions about the effectiveness of the use of nuclear weapons.
5- “Threads” movie
As for the movie “Threads”, it is distinguished by its terrifying realism, as it presented the effects of war from the point of view of ordinary citizens away from the angles of politicians and military personnel. The film won 4 Pavta Awards, and received a rating of 7.9 points on IMDB.
6- “Miracle Mile” movie
“Miracle Mile” belongs to the romantic current, and tells about Harry (Anthony Edwards), who coincidentally discovers that a nuclear blow will target Los Angeles within one hour.
The film focuses on the race with time, and raises priority questions when the end is approaching: Should the world be saved or live the remaining moments with whom we love? This work reflects psychological tension and collective anxiety, amid sharp philosophical questions.
7- “When the Wind Blows” movie
“When the wind is blowing”, directed by Jimmy T. Murakami, adapted from a video released in 1982, is one of the most prominent animation of adults that dealt with the nuclear war.
The work tells the story of a retired couple trying to follow government instructions in preparation for the war, but they are unable to understand them, so they end up with a painful fate. “When the wind blows” is characterized by combining manual drawing with transfucting technology, as well as a audio tape and anti -war songs, which created a balance between intimacy and terror.