This is a terrific film. It's presented in a unique event-based style that is pleasing whether you're a fan of documentaries or not. The combination of investigative reporting and archival footage made me gasp as I was transported over 6 decades of time. Be sure to check this film out at your local film festival. I would highly recommend getting a copy of this movie for any World War II history buffs in your family. In addition, the film incorporates cutting-edge graphics and music. I can understand why Sundance 2007 gave the film an honorable mention. Looking forward to seeing the next film from William Lorton. This is a true gem.
2 Reviews
Nicely Done.
rmax3048235 November 2013
William Lorton's dad was an American flight surgeon at an English air base during the war. He sent a good deal of movie footage home where, in the post-war world, it mostly remained in the closet. After Dad's death in 1995, Lorton pried into the footage and noticed a lengthy shot of a Spitfire with American marking making a wheels-up landing, followed by shots of men standing around the wrecked airplane. The Spitfire had a number on the tail fin, 944.
Lorton was able to locate the pilot and interview him before showing him the film and giving him a copy. The pilot, Blythe, having no idea the footage existed, was comfortable in front of Lorton's cameras telling the tale of his duties and of that particular mission in 1944. Lorton then springs the film on him and runs it on a screen in the living room. Blythe, in his understated way, is clearly amazed that the incident was captured on film. I would perhaps have been better if there weren't a close up of Blythe's face when viewing the film for the first time. It's as if Lorton were waiting for his subject to being weeping. But the old fellow maintains his dignity.
Nice job. It makes the viewer wonder what it feels like to watch a film of yourself, of which you were completely unaware, doing something exciting and dangerous sixty years ago.
Lorton was able to locate the pilot and interview him before showing him the film and giving him a copy. The pilot, Blythe, having no idea the footage existed, was comfortable in front of Lorton's cameras telling the tale of his duties and of that particular mission in 1944. Lorton then springs the film on him and runs it on a screen in the living room. Blythe, in his understated way, is clearly amazed that the incident was captured on film. I would perhaps have been better if there weren't a close up of Blythe's face when viewing the film for the first time. It's as if Lorton were waiting for his subject to being weeping. But the old fellow maintains his dignity.
Nice job. It makes the viewer wonder what it feels like to watch a film of yourself, of which you were completely unaware, doing something exciting and dangerous sixty years ago.
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