Auf Wiedersehen (film)

Auf Wiedersehen is a 1961 short film directed by George Coe. It is a satirical Cold War drama that presents a darkly comedic view of nuclear anxiety and societal conformity.

The film features a suburban American family preparing for a nuclear attack. The father, meticulously following government instructions, constructs a backyard fallout shelter. The family's adherence to civil defense procedures and the rigid social norms of the time are contrasted with the unsettling reality of potential nuclear annihilation.

Auf Wiedersehen utilizes black humor to critique the perceived absurdity of Cold War drills and the psychological impact of the constant threat of nuclear war on everyday life. The film's title, a German phrase meaning "goodbye" or "until we meet again," adds a layer of irony, suggesting the possible finality of the situation.

The film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film in 1961.