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Directed by Peter Watkins, "The War Game" is a powerful 1965 documentary that portrays the catastrophic effects of nuclear warfare, based on the historical events at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Utilizing innovative techniques and combining fact with fiction, Watkins aims to expose the inadequacies of civil defense programs in Britain. The film illustrates the horrific aftermath of a nuclear attack, including mass chaos and societal collapse, and raises important questions about the nuclear threat. Initially banned in Britain for contradicting government positions, it finally aired in 1985 and won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
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The War Game BBC 1965 Stephanie Potter and Andrew Wood
Background • Watkins a controversial filmmaker using innovative techniques • Based on events at Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Hamburg, Dresden, and, Darmstadt • Watkins based initial feelings on photographs
Background (Cont.) • Prepared through interviews (scientists, civil service, etc.) and scientific fact • Combined fact and fiction • British government refused to provide help, only help was through Kent fire services for firestorm scenes
Background (Cont.) • Completed in 1965 • Meant to be aired on television during anniversary week of Hiroshima bombings • Banned from British television—contradicted official British position on nuclear survivability • Aired on TV for first time in 1985 • Shown in cinemas from 1966 onward through ban loophole • Awarded “Best Documentary Feature” at 1967 Academy Awards
Watkins’ Goals • Expose inadequacy of Civil Defense program • Lack of education for general British population (Effects of bomb; handing out safety pamphlets at the last minute) • Portrayal of effects of nuclear attack • Evoke pathos and sentiment against nuclear weapons • Set in an idyllic part of Britain
Purported Attack Chronology • Less than three minutes warning time • Problems with evacuation to countryside • Inability of population to afford and adequately build bomb shelters • Immediate intense heat (“melt the upturned eyeball”) • Firestorms • Mass chaos
Effects • Massive casualties • Destroyed economy • Simple threat: Four years to fully recover • Actual attack: All of attack area/20% of “safe” areas rendered uninhabitable
Social Effects • General apathy toward life • Disregard for law • Hunger riots • Killing of security forces • Anarchy • Euthanasia • So traumatic no amount of therapy would help • Health effects • Radiation poisoning • Leukemia • Scurvy from lack of nutrition • Children • Extreme apathy
End • Discusses problems of using nuclear weapons • Threat of growing stockpiles and proliferation
Questions • Which parts do you think were real statistics and accurate interpretation vs. exaggeration meant to evoke strong emotions? • If an attack did occur, there would be a strong public outcry for retaliation: how would the government respond? Would they be locked into a series of mutual retaliations? • Watkins used both statistics, civilian interviews and potentially “real life” footage to make his points. Which depictions were the most effective and why?
Sources • The War Game • “The War Game Revisited” http://picpal.com/peterwatkins.html • IMDB Information on The War Game—http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059894/ • Others
