Threads and Nuclear War
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Threads and Nuclear War
Threads: - The Film that changed our lives.
This award-winning British drama documentary pulls no punches in tackling the subject of nuclear war. Set in the industrial city of Sheffield, Threads depicts the holocaust through the eyes of Ruth Beckett (Karen Meagher) and her fiancée Jimmy Kemp (Reece Dinsdale) from two months before to thirteen years after the holocaust. We are treated to a graphically disturbing portrayal of the medieval conditions that would prevail after such a conflict, including starvation, nuclear winter, disease, psychological trauma, illiteracy and both mental and physical mutation.
Director Mick Jackson makes very clever use of stills, on-screen narratives and voiceovers to give the whole movie a documentary feel; as if we are taking a fly-on-the-wall peek into post-apocalyptic Britain. Sometimes, it feels as though some of the inhabitants of this devastated world (especially those in the stills) are staring back at us with envy and pleading for us to end their suffering.
Of course, the world has changed since this film was made, and the Cold War politics of the era are now consigned to the history books. Nevertheless, with over 20,000 nuclear weapons still in existence, Threads is as poignant and relevant now as it was then.
The title, incidentally, refers to the interdependency of the various elements that hold society together and the ease with which those intricate links could be destroyed. In the words of the narrator, "the connections that make society strong also make it vulnerable".
SYNOPSIS
Wednesday March 5th
Here we are Introduced to the Characters of Jimmy Kemp (Reece Dinsdale) and his girlfriend Ruth Beckett (Karen Meagher). They are sitting on a hill above the city of Sheffield. On the Radio we hear Johnny B Goode.
Thursday May 5th-Thursday May 12th
Ruth finds out that she is pregnant and tells Jimmy. On the TV we see a news report about A Soviet Invasion of Iran. Which the USA and NATO condemn.
A few days later we see Jimmy telling his parents that Ruth is pregnant and during to argument that follows we here on the News the Soviets are placing more troops and armour into Iran.
Three days after this the scene switches to Ruth’s Parents house where her parents are waiting to meet Jimmy’s. On a News report we hear an American missile submarine (The USS Los Angeles) has gone missing.
The following Day there is a Naval Battle in the Gulf Resulting in Damage to a Soviet ship (The Kirov). We then hear about the Emergency Powers act that the British Government would use in times of Crisis. This in the event of War would devolve power to local city executives. We also find out that Ruth and Jimmy have bought a flat with each other.
Tuesday May 17th-Sunday May 22nd
The USA sends in the rapid deployment force into Iran.
Sheffield’s Chief Executive receives a memo from the Home Office telling him to prepare for War. This involves informing various Civil Servants of their emergency powers.
The next day we see that the government has started stockpiling food and blankets.
Saturday the 21st the USA delivers an ultantium to the Soviets to withdraw from Iran by Midday the following day.
The government takes control of British Airways in order to move troops to their front line positions in Germany. The Royal Navy Starts Guarding the North Sea oil rigs.
Sunday 22nd. Midday: - The US's Ultimatum deadline passes.
The Americans launch a B-52 strike on the Soviet airbase at Moshad.
Soviets defend with a single nuclear tipped air-defence missile.
Americans respond with a single tactical Nuke on the Soviet airbase.
Exchange stops.
Shortage of food in the shops.
Soviet navies and US battle in the Gulf.
The British Parliament passes the Emergency powers act.
Tuesday 27th May-Thursday 26th May
Emergency power acts comes into force. This involves clearing hospitals of non-essential cases; Motorways and essential trunk roads are closed to all but Government traffic; Petrol stations closed; Known and potential subversives are arrested.
The following day, TV and radio stations constantly play public information films also all public service transport (Fire engines, ambulances, buses etc) are moved to safe locations.
Thursday 26th May: - at 8:32 am the 4 minute warning sounds, widespread panic we see Jimmy taking cover under a Van. Ruth takes shelter in her family shelter
8:35 am Single large Yield Warhead explodes high over the North Sea, causing a massive EMP pulse. This knocks out most electrical and electronic components in Britain and the rest of Northern Europe
8:37 am The first salvo hits NATO targets. The first wave totals 80MT landing on Britain, mostly hitting Military targets. The Nearest missile in this wave lands about 5 miles from Sheffield; windows are broken but little over -pressure damage. We see Jimmy leave the safety of his cover and start running for Ruth’s.
We never see him again.
The Exchange escalates; secondary targets include areas of Population and Industry as well as Communication centres.
At least 2 weapons detonate over Sheffield. Large-scale damage, we see Jimmy’s family. His Father survives with little damage, but his Mother has 3rd or 4th degree burns. His brother is killed by the blast wave.
In the second wave 130 MT are dropped on the UK making a grand total of 210MT.
The Britain we know is destroyed, the word as we see it now has gone.
Attack +1 week
People start leaving their makeshift shelters. There is still some government control but this is failing fast as just about all communications are destroyed.
The local authorities have little or no food to give to people; people are dying from the effects of radiation sickness, and disease.
Attack from +1 week to 2 months
Government control is failing, as they have no food to give people. People are forced in to labour to try and recover what little of the harvest remains. Radiation sickness and disease are at their high points. It is a dirty, sickened world. Temperature has dropped as Nuclear winter sets in. Ruth as searched for Jimmy but has not found him.
From 2 months onward
We see the people struggling to live in a world full of rubble. Society is reduced to the level of pre-industrial Britain; the population is reduced to that of the Middle Ages.
To find out more buy the film are nag the BBC to put it on again.
Summary
In summary unlike many films of this genre, Threads chooses not to tiptoe around the consequences of nuclear war. Indeed, it tackles them head on. The message - if there is one - that seems to run through the story is that mankind would probably survive in some form or another, but it wouldn't be pretty.
For the children of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s Nuclear War was a real threat, it was something that may not have been thought about every single day but it was something that always was there lurking in the corner of peoples minds. To come out in the darkness of night when dreams turned into nightmares. With every plane that flew over to fast or to low. With every news flash on TV.
Remember this tonight the toys may be put away but the toy-box can never be closed.
Threads: - The Film that changed our lives.
This award-winning British drama documentary pulls no punches in tackling the subject of nuclear war. Set in the industrial city of Sheffield, Threads depicts the holocaust through the eyes of Ruth Beckett (Karen Meagher) and her fiancée Jimmy Kemp (Reece Dinsdale) from two months before to thirteen years after the holocaust. We are treated to a graphically disturbing portrayal of the medieval conditions that would prevail after such a conflict, including starvation, nuclear winter, disease, psychological trauma, illiteracy and both mental and physical mutation.
Director Mick Jackson makes very clever use of stills, on-screen narratives and voiceovers to give the whole movie a documentary feel; as if we are taking a fly-on-the-wall peek into post-apocalyptic Britain. Sometimes, it feels as though some of the inhabitants of this devastated world (especially those in the stills) are staring back at us with envy and pleading for us to end their suffering.
Of course, the world has changed since this film was made, and the Cold War politics of the era are now consigned to the history books. Nevertheless, with over 20,000 nuclear weapons still in existence, Threads is as poignant and relevant now as it was then.
The title, incidentally, refers to the interdependency of the various elements that hold society together and the ease with which those intricate links could be destroyed. In the words of the narrator, "the connections that make society strong also make it vulnerable".
SYNOPSIS
Wednesday March 5th
Here we are Introduced to the Characters of Jimmy Kemp (Reece Dinsdale) and his girlfriend Ruth Beckett (Karen Meagher). They are sitting on a hill above the city of Sheffield. On the Radio we hear Johnny B Goode.
Thursday May 5th-Thursday May 12th
Ruth finds out that she is pregnant and tells Jimmy. On the TV we see a news report about A Soviet Invasion of Iran. Which the USA and NATO condemn.
A few days later we see Jimmy telling his parents that Ruth is pregnant and during to argument that follows we here on the News the Soviets are placing more troops and armour into Iran.
Three days after this the scene switches to Ruth’s Parents house where her parents are waiting to meet Jimmy’s. On a News report we hear an American missile submarine (The USS Los Angeles) has gone missing.
The following Day there is a Naval Battle in the Gulf Resulting in Damage to a Soviet ship (The Kirov). We then hear about the Emergency Powers act that the British Government would use in times of Crisis. This in the event of War would devolve power to local city executives. We also find out that Ruth and Jimmy have bought a flat with each other.
Tuesday May 17th-Sunday May 22nd
The USA sends in the rapid deployment force into Iran.
Sheffield’s Chief Executive receives a memo from the Home Office telling him to prepare for War. This involves informing various Civil Servants of their emergency powers.
The next day we see that the government has started stockpiling food and blankets.
Saturday the 21st the USA delivers an ultantium to the Soviets to withdraw from Iran by Midday the following day.
The government takes control of British Airways in order to move troops to their front line positions in Germany. The Royal Navy Starts Guarding the North Sea oil rigs.
Sunday 22nd. Midday: - The US's Ultimatum deadline passes.
The Americans launch a B-52 strike on the Soviet airbase at Moshad.
Soviets defend with a single nuclear tipped air-defence missile.
Americans respond with a single tactical Nuke on the Soviet airbase.
Exchange stops.
Shortage of food in the shops.
Soviet navies and US battle in the Gulf.
The British Parliament passes the Emergency powers act.
Tuesday 27th May-Thursday 26th May
Emergency power acts comes into force. This involves clearing hospitals of non-essential cases; Motorways and essential trunk roads are closed to all but Government traffic; Petrol stations closed; Known and potential subversives are arrested.
The following day, TV and radio stations constantly play public information films also all public service transport (Fire engines, ambulances, buses etc) are moved to safe locations.
Thursday 26th May: - at 8:32 am the 4 minute warning sounds, widespread panic we see Jimmy taking cover under a Van. Ruth takes shelter in her family shelter
8:35 am Single large Yield Warhead explodes high over the North Sea, causing a massive EMP pulse. This knocks out most electrical and electronic components in Britain and the rest of Northern Europe
8:37 am The first salvo hits NATO targets. The first wave totals 80MT landing on Britain, mostly hitting Military targets. The Nearest missile in this wave lands about 5 miles from Sheffield; windows are broken but little over -pressure damage. We see Jimmy leave the safety of his cover and start running for Ruth’s.
We never see him again.
The Exchange escalates; secondary targets include areas of Population and Industry as well as Communication centres.
At least 2 weapons detonate over Sheffield. Large-scale damage, we see Jimmy’s family. His Father survives with little damage, but his Mother has 3rd or 4th degree burns. His brother is killed by the blast wave.
In the second wave 130 MT are dropped on the UK making a grand total of 210MT.
The Britain we know is destroyed, the word as we see it now has gone.
Attack +1 week
People start leaving their makeshift shelters. There is still some government control but this is failing fast as just about all communications are destroyed.
The local authorities have little or no food to give to people; people are dying from the effects of radiation sickness, and disease.
Attack from +1 week to 2 months
Government control is failing, as they have no food to give people. People are forced in to labour to try and recover what little of the harvest remains. Radiation sickness and disease are at their high points. It is a dirty, sickened world. Temperature has dropped as Nuclear winter sets in. Ruth as searched for Jimmy but has not found him.
From 2 months onward
We see the people struggling to live in a world full of rubble. Society is reduced to the level of pre-industrial Britain; the population is reduced to that of the Middle Ages.
To find out more buy the film are nag the BBC to put it on again.
Summary
In summary unlike many films of this genre, Threads chooses not to tiptoe around the consequences of nuclear war. Indeed, it tackles them head on. The message - if there is one - that seems to run through the story is that mankind would probably survive in some form or another, but it wouldn't be pretty.
For the children of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s Nuclear War was a real threat, it was something that may not have been thought about every single day but it was something that always was there lurking in the corner of peoples minds. To come out in the darkness of night when dreams turned into nightmares. With every plane that flew over to fast or to low. With every news flash on TV.
Remember this tonight the toys may be put away but the toy-box can never be closed.
