Pink Floyd – The Wall

Pink Floyd – The Wall
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Alan Parker Gerald Scarfe (animation)
Produced by	Alan Marshall
Screenplay by	Roger Waters
Based on	The Wall by Pink Floyd
Starring	Bob Geldof
Music by	Pink Floyd Bob Ezrin Michael Kamen
Cinematography	Peter Biziou
Edited by	Gerry Hambling
Production company	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed by	MGM/UA Entertainment Co.
Release date	23 May 1982 (1982-05-23) (Cannes) 15 July 1982 (1982-07-15) (United Kingdom)
Running time	95 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	$12 million
Box office	$22.2 million

Pink Floyd – The Wall is a 1982 British live-action/animated musical drama film directed by Alan Parker with animated segments by political cartoonist Gerald Scarfe, and is based on the 1979 Pink Floyd album of the same name. The film centers around a confined rocker named Pink, who, after being driven into insanity by the death of his father and many depressive moments during his lifetime, constructs a metaphorical (and sometimes physical) wall to be protected from the world and emotional situations around him. When this coping mechanism backfires he puts himself on trial and sets himself free. The screenplay was written by Pink Floyd vocalist and bassist Roger Waters.

Like its musical companion, the film is highly metaphorical and symbolic imagery and sound are present most commonly. However, the film is mostly driven by music, and does not feature much dialogue. Gerald Scarfe drew and animated 15 minutes of animated sequences, which appear at several points in the film. It was the seventh animated feature to be presented in Dolby Stereo. The film is best known for its disturbing surrealism, animated sequences, sexual situations, violence and gore. Despite its turbulent production and the creators voicing their discontent about the final product, the film has since fared well generally, and has established cult status.

Pink is a rock star, one of several reasons behind his apparent depressive and detached emotional state. He is first seen in an unkempt hotel room, motionless and expressionless, watching television while the Vera Lynn recording of "The Little Boy that Santa Claus Forgot" plays. It is later revealed that Pink's father, a British soldier, was killed in action while defending the Anzio bridgehead during World War II, in Pink's infancy.