Seen: August 20th, 2007
Format: DVD
Rating: 7
This is another of those films that I have no recollection exactly how it ended up on my list. I wasn't even quite sure what it was when it arrived. Sometimes this is a god thing, sometimes it's a not-so-good thing.
This time it's the former.
In a nutshell, this is cautionary apocalyptic tale. Made early in the Cold War, it's an unflinching look at a possible result of mutually assured destruction. It's a straightforward, factual telling, but is charged with tension and drama.
It's really a Science Fiction film, as it deals with a potential future. And in this regard, it's one of the better ones.
The film exposes it's premise very gradually. It's much more invested in the characters early in the film, revealing them to us as people. As thing progress and we become aware of their reality, their reactions are much more powerful, because we've experienced them as people.
They're a diverse group. There aren't many stereotypes here, and the few that exist are wiped aside by the scenario.
There's some great concepts and moments in this film, many of them quite unexpected. It asks and answers some very difficult questions. It deals with the humanity of the situation well, if a bit dourly.
My only problem with the film is the continuous use of the song "Waltzing Matilda" throughout the film score in a nauseating number of variations. I don't believe I'll ever be able to hear that song again without experiencing some antipathy.
See this one for a great take on the apocalyptic ramifications of the last World War.
The Good: Unflinching future fiction
The Bad: Waiting for the wind
The Ugly: Waltzing Matilda
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