Using the theme of apocalypse day, “Panic in Year Zero” poses the question: “How to survive when the world collapses in nuclear war?” The film obviously portrayed part of political and social context at the time being, yet, my impression of the film concentrated on the problem of morality and survival-ism.
A middle class family, the Baldwins, set out for a camping trip but later had to find ways to save themselves from nuclear attack towards the USA. The most central character is the father, Harry Balwind, (played by Ray Milland) with the transformation from a normal father to a determined realistic family leader. “No matter what, I’m going to live. That’s what I’m saying too. My family must survive”.
With this resolute thought, he went to every length to maintain his family survival, in which what concerns me the most is the fact gradually, he became tenser and acted towards immorality. He put a gun towards the hardware shop owner as the owner refused to take his credit cards, punched and threatened the gasoline station worker trying to jack up prices, set up a fire on a the main road to make his own way, etc. He did not trust anyone. Accidentally, the Johnsons, the hardware shop owners, also sheltered in the same valley as the Baldwins. Johnson offered to visit but Harry refused under any circumstances. Worse, he killed two punks intending to abuse his daughter, Karen. After all, is Harry Balwind just the type of man when encountering the matter of survival, became violent and selfish?
The question has no absolute answer varying by each person’s own viewpoints and perception. Nevertheless, Harry has definitely not lost humanity. Rather, the film also goes around a conflict in Harry’s innate feelings. “I want you to use that gun if you have to. But I want you to hate it”, Harry said to his son when Rick began to rise eagerness over shooting guns. In some way, Harry himself detests what he is doing and what he has become. “I looked for the worst in others and I found it in myself”, said Harry torturing himself after killing the two punks.
Ann, the wife, played an active part in Harry’s emotions and decisions. She first got angry with Harry’s “robbing and mauling people”, pushed Rick’s gun away from killing the punks, etc. but then withdrawn under Harry’s determination and the cruel truth. However, she is still a benevolent middle- class lady. She persuaded Harry to visit the Johnsons, which after a sequence of scenes, lead to the rescue for a young woman, Marilyn, in the punks’ house and consoled Harry’s mind from the killing. In my opinion, Ann’s appearance, along with the children, is the thing keeping Harry humanity and calmness over such a stretched situation.
The film finally has a happy ending like most of American movies: Rick got shoot in his leg but the family successfully reached the aid station to get blood transfusion and the family and Marilyn survived from the nuclear war as “five good ones” (meaning no radiation sickness). What is left in audiences may be the wondering: We might judge Harry and the family through the film, but what would we do if we were put in their case- facing death and survival?
Image References: Dvdbeaver.com
and captured from the movie.
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