Introduction

A haunting film about Britain and the nuclear age, from the first bomb tests to our potentially futile preparations for attack during the Cold War.

Outline

Framed by Britain’s mission to build the bomb, A British Guide to the End of the World uses extraordinary unseen archive and exclusive testimonies from people directly involved in our nuclear story, from conscripted soldiers attending the early nuclear tests in the South Pacific to servicemen, volunteers and civil servants involved in the planning of how we might have managed in the event of a nuclear catastrophe.

Accompanied by an atmospheric score, the film features classified footage, hidden for decades, as well as television reports and government information videos that retain the spirit of Cold War paranoia. Horrifying, absurd and at times achingly poignant, the film recaptures a time of stockpiled paranoia that left a generation traumatised.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall

A collection of programmes exploring the Cold War and fall of the Berlin Wall.

• Palace for the People.
• The Secret Life of the Berlin Wall.
• Atomic: Living in Dread and Promise.
• London Calling: Cold War Letters.
• A British Guide to the End of the World.
• Know Your Enemy: The Silent War.
• Britain’s Nuclear Bomb: The Inside Story.
• The Fall of the Berlin Wall with John Simpson.
• Rich Hall’s Red Menace.

Production & Filming Details

• Director: Daniel Vernon.
• Producers: Rachel Hooper.
• Distributor: BBC Four.
• Release Date: 04 November 2019 (UK).
• Running Time: 64 minutes.
• Country: UK.
• Language: English.

YouTube Link