The short film is based upon songs from PF’s last studio album with Roger Waters. It was Waters’ concept album about the death of the England’s spirit after WWII, “a requiem for the post-war dream”.

The characters did not choose lives of mediocrity– rather, their lives were affected by the horrors of WWII and the military-industrial complex that continues to profit from war to this very day.

The movie was made in the early ’80s, which explains the references to Maggie Thatcher, the Faukland Islands and Japanese steelworkers. It was directed by Alan Parker, who directed “The Wall”. In fact, one of the actors from “The Wall”– the man who played the mean schoolteacher– reprises his role somewhat in this short film. The schoolteacher was shellshocked by the war and had trouble readjusting to civilian society, going from being in charge of a squadron of men to being reduced to babysitting bratty school kids.

Roger Waters’ own father (Eric Fletcher Waters) was the inspiration for “The Final Cut”, which is a big downer of an album but also a fantastic coda to the classic Pink Floyd era.

I just saw the movie for the first time today, and it is magnificent, and helps explain that album for me. Plus, in light of today’s current events, it’s timely and prescient.