When the Wind Blows

Jim travels to the local town to read newspapers and keep abreast of the deteriorating international situation regarding the Soviet–Afghan War. A radio report warns that war may be days away, prompting him to prepare for worst-case scenarios. He discusses with Hilda the likelihood of a nuclear crisis and their need for shelter.

Jim follows Protect and Survive instructions to build a fallout shelter. He covers the windows with white paint and readies sacks to lie down in during a strike. Despite anxiety, they believe they can survive as they did in World War II.

A radio transmission warns of an imminent ICBM strike. The couple rush to their shelter and narrowly escape as distant shock waves batter their home. They settle inside as the blast hits remnants of the house.

They emerge after a few nights to find that all utilities, services, and communications have been destroyed. Jim misreads the situation, speculating that wartime measures have caused the outages. They try to resume some routines despite the catastrophe.

The couple attempts to resume daily life using a camping stove to prepare tea and dinners. They collect rainwater to replenish evaporated supplies. Fallout dust fills the air inside the house, reminding them of the ongoing danger.

They venture outside and see radioactive ash blocking the sun and a heavy fog. They are oblivious to the dead animals, destroyed buildings, and scorched vegetation outside the cottage. The isolation and radiation begin to take a toll on them.

Their initial optimism gives way to fear as food and water run low and radiation sickness intensifies. They wait for emergency instructions or rescue that never comes. Communications vanish, deepening their sense of isolation.

Hilda's symptoms worsen with bloody diarrhea and bleeding gums, and she experiences fear and despair. Jim clings to the idea that a chemist might supply medications someday. The couple's morale deteriorates as comfort and normalcy vanish.

A rat in the dried toilet traumatizes Hilda, underscoring the collapse of ordinary life. Her condition worsens as the days pass and she begins to lose her hair. Jim remains hopeful but the situation remains hopeless.

Near death, Hilda suggests lying down in the paper sacks for rest. Jim agrees and tries to comfort her. He recites prayers, but forgets some lines, choosing instead to read The Charge of the Light Brigade, whose martial tone disturbs Hilda.

Jim's voice fades as he reaches the end of The Charge of the Light Brigade. Outside, the sky begins to clear and the sun rises through the gloom, offering a fleeting sense of renewal. The ending suggests a grim and ironic aftermath tied to nuclear war.

As the credits roll, a Morse code taps out MAD, signaling mutual assured destruction. The signal underscores the film's bleak meditation on the futility of survival in nuclear war. The couple's fate is sealed by the larger political catastrophe.