History Film / Water1985

''Water'' is a 1985 {{Comedy}}[=/=]{{Satire}} from Creator/HandmadeFilms, directed by Dick Clement from a script by Clement, Ian La Frenais and Bill Persky.

* WelcomeToTheCaribbeanMon: Played straight as it was filmed on St. Lucia, which [[UsefulNotes/TheCaribbean gained independence from the UK]] only 5-6 years before the movie hit theaters. Similarly to Cascara, St. Lucia was quite poor back then. However one subversion is that Cascara is apparently worthless for tourism--it has no beaches and there is a constant wind blowing everywhere making it impossible to play bridge.

* NoBloodForPhlebotinum: PlayedForLaughs.

Baxter Thwaites (Creator/MichaelCaine) is governor of Cascara, a [[NothingExcitingEverHappensHere long-forgotten]] British colony in the Caribbean. His peaceful life is disturbed only by his [[AwfulWeddedLife shrill wife Dolores]] and the Cascaran Liberation Front -- a rebel group that no one takes seriously because it [[SuspiciouslySmallArmy only consists of two people]], one of whom (Delgado Fitzhugh, played by Creator/BillyConnolly) communicates solely through (bad) singing.

* ILied: After Pamela states her opposition to Spenco, Baxter threatens to have her deported as an undesirable alien. Later when they realise their UnresolvedSexualTension...
-->'''Pamela:''' You said I was an undesirable alien.\\
'''Baxter:''' I lied. ''(they start smooching)''

* NiceHat: Subverted. Baxter complains that his feathered dress helmet makes him feel like he has a live chicken on his head. When he discovers that Britain is abandoning the colony, he chucks the helmet into the sea.

-->'''Commander:''' [[BloodKnight For the bloodshed]], and [[MoneyDearBoy the money!]]

* WelcomeToTheCaribbeanMon: Played straight, but often subverted. It was filmed on St. Lucia, which [[UsefulNotes/TheCaribbean gained independence from the UK]] only 5-6 years before the movie hit theaters. Similarly to Cascara, St. Lucia was quite poor back then.
** One subversion is that Cascara is apparently worthless for tourism: it has no beaches and there is a constant wind blowing everywhere making it impossible to play bridge.

* CorruptCorporateExecutive: Rob Waring and his boss, Spender.
** Additionally, the French water company executive who makes no bones about the reason why she's employing mercenaries to destroy the Spenco well: money.

** Baxter is griping that the population don't care about being forcibly evacuated from Cascara.

* ApatheticCitizens:
-->"[[UsefulNotes/FidelCastro Fidel]] says Cuba will shed blood for revolution of downtrodden people anywhere. But your people are too downtrodden even for Cuba!"
** See FailedAttemptAtDrama for what happens when the Cascaran Liberation Front tries a RousingSpeech.

* StealthPun: Baxter is griping that the population don't care about being forcibly evacuated from Cascara.
-->'''Rev. Fitzhugh:''' I suppose they all want to go where the {{grass is greener}}.\\
'''Baxter:''' ''(smoking a joint)'' They'll find it a lot more expensive.

* ThePowerOfRock: Delgado appeals to the United Nations Assembly to grant Cascara's independence by singing to them. Unfortunately he's a DreadfulMusician so they're not impressed, until a cameo appearance by some former Beatles saves the day.

-->"Baxter, I ''have'' been trying to get back at my father, but I think I've a good reason for it. Dad's a prick."

-->'''American TV presenter:''' The man they call the Singing Rebel is still at liberty. And in this remote and inhospitable terrain, he could be in one of a thousand places. ''(The CLF walk out of the bushes behind him, holding their Kalashnikovs)'' Why do you guys have your hands in the air...uhh...

--->'''Eric:''' Am I [[NeverLiveItDown never to be forgiven]] for one [[MomentOfWeakness moment of weakness]]?\\

* TheCameo: Features a performance by a (fictional) charity band "The Singing Rebels" featuring Two former Beatles, Music/GeorgeHarrison and Music/RingoStarr together with [[Music/DeepPurple Jon Lord]], Music/EricClapton, and Billy Connolly on vocals.

-->'''Dolores:''' [[AwfulWeddedWife Where has the magic gone?]]

-->'''Dolores:''' Where has the magic gone?
-->'''Baxter:''' If you want magic, I'll take you home and saw you in half.

* TheCameo: Features a performance by a (fictional) charity band "The Singing Rebels" featuring both Music/GeorgeHarrison and Music/RingoStarr -- rarely seen together since the break-up of Music/TheBeatles -- together with [[Music/DeepPurple Jon Lord]], Music/EricClapton, and Billy Connolly on vocals.

* EarnYourHappyEnding: The standoff over the rig is defused without bloodshed, and Cascara gains its independence peacefully.

* {{Eagleland}}: Type 2 with Spender and Major Hollister, although the American paratroopers under Hollister's command are otherwise disciplined and well-behaved.

''(Cut to a paratrooper of the 82nd Airborne Division asking his commanding officer: "Sir, why are we here?")''

-->'''American TV presenter:''' The man they call the Singing Rebel is still at liberty. And in this remote and inhospitable terrain, he could be in one of a thousand places. ''(The CLF walk out of the bushes behind him, holding their [=AKs=])'' Why do you guys have your hands in the air...uhh...