I'm sorry, but dying from global fallout is not life-affirming. These suburban people are as guilty as anyone at enabling their own deaths through the government madness they endorse - we are dealing now with global warming with catastrophic consequences that can only be guessed at - perhaps not world-wide devastation but dire enough - and no-one wanted to hear about it when I wanted to talk about it in the 80s, and no-one wants to discuss it now (only pontificate and stamp the feet). People have been warned again and again and they choose to support demagogues, militarists, and zealots rather than sober and honest people of positive action. If this happens to us, the fault lies right at our front door steps, and eventually right under the headstones of our friends and family. This, like many other possible catastrophes, is something that can be avoided - but will not be. There is nothing life-affirming in senseless destruction of entire populations.
As to the film - there is none better at bringing home the stark reality of the consequences of our actions. Unlike the British fear-mongering cartoon of "Threads" or the schlock-fest of the American "Day After", this one has no blasted landscapes, no incinerated skeletons, no walking corpses - only a community and a civilization that slowly disappears into the waiting Earth, which will still be here long after the madmen who inhabited it are no longer even a memory.
Should be seen by all school children the world over - and their parents.
-drl
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BonnysBlue
15 years ago
Perhaps "life-affirming" can be taken in a way that I didn't mean. What I meant was - in the midst of all the senseless loss of life, we are shown a scene that reminds us of what we lose should we continue on the path of destruction we are on. There is no better "gift" than that of pure human passion between two equal-minded adults who love and are loved. The minister and Jane Alexander's character are not "in love," nor necessarily sexually attracted to one another. But they share a moment of recognition that all humanity is being lost, and they simultaneously choose to come together for that brief moment. This, to me, was a huge emotional reminder to never forget what matters most in this life (at least to me) - human relationships. Therefore, it was life-affirming to me.
I cannot argue with anything else you said. Humans tend to be very myopic and deal with what is only immediately in their circle of existence. To solve a global problem, more people must have a global awareness.
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Kurt-150
12 years ago
Bonny, no offense, and I agree that it's a cool scene. I just think it's representative of the sexual paranoia/negativity of our culture that you would feel the need to say "...between two equal-minded adults." I know that love and passion are taboo between people of different age, race, creed, social/economic status and so on, but now it seems we're up to making sure their IQ's match as well. Sex between smart and average IQ people is a dangerous perversion! J/p :-)
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BonnysBlue
12 years ago
Touche', Kurt! Lol, I meant to say "between two LIKE-minded adults," meaning that they both wanted the same thing. I far from meant 'equal,' as in the same intellect! But it's an interesting thing to consider, however, that often people do indeed hook up with people of 'equal intellect,' both smart or not so smart. Thanks for pointing out my error in phrasing.
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Kurt-150
12 years ago
Aww. Bonny, you're so gracious about my teasing you that now I feel bad about doing it!
Maybe if WW3 breaks out I will find you and make up for it with a smooch or two, hehe.
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IcySpoon
9 years ago
Your comments are thoughtful and insightful-the op clearly has an agenda to push and was looking for an opportunity to push it on us, completely missing the point of your posts.
"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it." Norman Maclean
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