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Discussion Topics - Nuclear radiation

Aspects of Nuclear Radiation (1950's propaganda)

This film tries to dispell fear of nuclear radiation by such tactics as portraying the human body as a factory run by pixies, telling you you can always get a toupee if your hair falls out, and informing you that you'll be dead before getting a high enough dose of radiation to make you sterile. The naration is alternately patronizing and clueless, making this a highly amusing example of 50s cold war propaganda. USED WITH PERMISION)

When the Wind Blows (1986) - eight little snippets to make up the full film....

With the help of government-issued pamphlets, an elderly British couple build a shelter and prepare for an impending nuclear attack, unaware that times and the nature of war have changed from their romantic memories of World War II..

Based on Raymond Briggs' book. A old British couple, Jim and Hilda, who live in the countryside, believe in the fact that the Government will always know what it is doing. However the world is fast heading for the Third World War between the US and the Soviets. Jim prepares for it by building a shelter using Goverment pamphlets however both of them still believe that the war will be fought like the Second World War and they can't fully understand that the war will be fought with nuclear weapons. All too soon, war breaks out and Jim and Hilda survives a nuclear blast. They stand back and wait, they believe, for help from the Government and for things to get back to normal in a couple of days, little knowing that help isn't on its way, and that, unknown to them, Jim and Hilda are slowly dying from the "fallout" radition poisoning and they will probably not survive...