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Well, History falls among my interests, as detailed in my blog entry on courses I took (scroll to bottom.) And WW II is a gripping chapter of history. Personally, I had relatives who lived thru it... so that adds an extra sharp edge.
In addition to the courses mentioned in the above blog entry, I have watched large numbers of both documentaries and dramatic films about WW II... and I wrote down my impression and evaluation.
Discussions with my friend Karen (RIP, her memorial appears at the bottom), inspired me to put together this entry!
All the fictional and non-fictional suggestions here are movies/documentaries I "really" liked or "loved".
I did NOT include the ones I disliked or felt lukewarm about it. All the blurbs are my own mini reviews, from the time I watched them.
NON-FICTION
Operation Valkyrie: The Stauffenberg Plot to Kill Hitler
Informative, engaging account of the German Resistance movement and the various attempts to assassinate Hitler during WW II -- especially the plot led by Claus von Stauffenberg in 1944. The documentary combines expert interviews, dramatizations, file footage and even home movies by Hitler's associates.
Into the Arms of Strangers
Informative, engaging and moving documentary about the asylum offered by England to thousands of Jewish children on the eve of WW II's outbreak.
World War II: Behind Closed Doors: Stalin, the Nazis and the West (2009, Laurence Rees)
Excellent, in-depth, documentary with re-enactments, about the shady "dealings" of alliances-of-necessity between enemies. The 6 episodes, over 2 discs, cover WW II from the point of view of the "Eastern front". Uses information that was released after the communist collapse of the Soviet Union. Very engaging.
The Other Side of Dunkirk
Good documentary, with a fairly in-depth analysis of the Allied retreat of Dunkirk during WW II
First World War, The: The Complete Series
Excellent, detailed documentary about WW I , in 4 discs. Very informative and entertaining.
I have become very convinced that it's impossible to understand WW II without digging deep into the FIRST World War!
Hiroshima: BBC History of World War II
Compelling documentary covering a three-week period from the New Mexico test blast to dropping the bomb on Hiroshima.
FICTION
The first two items in this list are a 2-part mind-blowing series that I can't recommend enough! The remaining items are in alphabetical order.
(1) The Winds of War (1983)
Well-crafted, poignant, very engaging mini-series (6 discs) set on the eve of WW II, spanning 1936-1941. The two main protagonists are the family of a US navy officer, and the family of a Jewish scholar living in Rome. Their personal dramas are interwoven with historic events and supported by documentary segments. This is a Prequel to the epic series "War and Remembrance", which picks up where this leaves off. Many of the actors remain the same across the two series. A few change. The later series has the better actors, but the ones in this one are pretty good, too.
(2) War and Remembrance (1988)
Continuation of the series "The Winds of War". Superb, poignant and very engaging WWII story. 12 discs.
Antonia's Line (1995)
Slow, but with a certain amount of charm and oddball quality. It covers the lives of a line of women, spanning several generations, in a Dutch village, from the end of WW II on. A good spectrum of personality types. Tongue-in-cheek about country folk's "earthiness"
Bon Voyage (2003)
Subtle spoof or war dramas. Among the backdrop of the German invasion of France during WW II, a dreamer young man, a spoiled famous actress, a minister (Depardieu), a fleeing scientist, his pretty lab assistant, German spies and misc. small crooks find themselves running away from Paris and seeking refuge in Bordeaux. Entertaining. Some good music.
Churchill’s Secret Agents: The New Recruits (2018)
Fascinating
mini-series in 5 episodes of 45 mins each.
A group of modern volunteers - including several women - elect to embark
into the arduous training given to England's foreign agents (spies,
saboteurs, partisan organizers, etc) during WW II.
The participants' motivations and personalities are quite diverse, but
they are all very driven.
The series has a certain "Project Runway" quality, but
with a serious interest in history and the discovery of one's limits.
Many participants get eliminated, but all appear to experience a fascinating,
though somewhat harrowing, journey of self-discovery.
Netflix streamed
Note: a drama based on the real WW II spy infiltration into France can be found in "A Call to Spy" (2019), which I personally found worthwhile but not outstanding. Netflix streamed.
Counterfeit Traitor (1962)
Spellbinding thriller about a pragmatic businessman in neutral Sweden during WW II, who gradually gets drawn -- initially by blackmail and then by developing personal convictions -- into being an allied spy in the heart of Germany, to make use of his business connections there. Very well-crafted, tight plot, though a few bits are predictable. Long but not lengthy; quite engaging and moving.
Dark Blue World (2001)
Poignant and well-filmed story about WW II and its aftermath, with a great human element. Upon the nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia, a top pilot in the Czech Air Force, and a promising young flier who becomes his protégé, escape to England and join the British Air Force. While flying missions over England, they both gravitate around a young woman whose husband is in the Navy. When the war finally comes to a close, and the Czechs pilots return home, they discover they are now considered enemies of the Communist state. A great tale about the negative consequences of "playing hero."
The Defeated (1 season)
Poignant, dark but with hope. Rebuilding Germany right after WW II
Netflix streamed
Downfall (2004)
Well-crafted, carefully-researched and gripping story about the very end of WW II, from an unusual point-of-view: that of Hitler and his inner circle, including his young secretary. Good soundtrack.
Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Poignant, well-filmed, high-budget production about a young Russian conscript caught in the whirlwind of the battle of Stalingrad during WW II - and how his superb sharpshooting skills propel him into being turned into a morale-boosting hero, which comes in handy to attract a girl... His sniper skills meet a worthy opponent in the form of a German officer. Engrossing story about finding meaning and hope within the horrors and futility of war - though somewhat Hollywoodized. The love story, though a welcome counter-balance, follows the typical formulaic subplot. Everyone speaks in British English! (though that's not as bad as it could have been...) The ending isn't as strong as it could've been. Based on a true story.
Europa Europa (1991)
Poignant film about the absurdity of discrimination and persecution during WW II, highlighted by the fact that a Jewish youth -- out of sheer necessity -- manages to pass himself off as a promising German nazi youth as well as a promising communist youth. The commonality of all groups, when "zoomed in" at the levels of the individuals, makes the separations all the more nonsensical. Well-made and engaging.
Everything Is Illuminated (2005)
One of those rare movies that can successfully be both a funny, campy comedy and a thought-provoking drama. A quirky film with a pop-art aesthetic that something of a cross between "Borat" and "Life Can Be Beautiful". Story of a serious young Jewish man who treks from the US to the ancestral land of Ukrania in search of the woman who saved his grandfather from the Nazis -- and of items to add to his extensive collection of memorabilia. To his shock, his Ukranian tour guides are a gold-toothed hip-hop dancer (who also narrates, with his amusingly funky English) and his uber-grumpy grandfather. The translator, with his combination of Western hip-hop posturing and Eastern European good-natured oafishness, has a definite "Borat"-like quality that tends to steal the show. Later on, the film successfully shifts gears into moving story that celebrates the importance of remembrance. The film is a tad confusing in its occasional use of flashbacks to WW II, and the characters' 1-dimensionality can get a tad annoying.
Labyrinth of Lies
Striking, poignant, well-crafted movie about an idealist young lawyer, about 15 years after the end of WW II Germany, trying to bring criminal nazis to justice - against plenty of obstructionism. Based on the true story of the Frankfurt Auschwitz trials that started in 1963 (Wikipedia)
Netflix DVD
The Ogre (1996)
Poignant WW II story about a French POW
responsible for kidnapping dozens of young boys for recruitment by the
Nazi SS. From an early age, his natural personality is to serve others.
As a grown up, he loves children. He is good friends with a little
girl, until she falsely accuses him of rape and he is sent to prison.
During the war, he is freed by the German invaders who involve him with
the upper echelons of the SS and give him a job as a hunting assistant
on Goering's Bavarian estate. His kidnapping of boys is completely
intertwined with him taking tender loving care of them.
Excellent character development (especially "dual nature") and good
filming.
Run Boy Run (2013)
Poignant story of tenacity and survival: an orphaned Jewish boy in WW II Poland discovers extraordinary resourcefulness, as he encounters the best and worst in people during his journey. It could have easily been a harrowing story... But skillfully managed to be primarily inspirational.
Shining Through (1992)
Engaging, charming drama about a young American woman during WW II who really wants to become a spy. She is determined and very smart, but not a hardboiled super-heroine: more like a regular sweet young woman who decides to take on a big challenge ~ and brings to it her abilities and her vulnerabilities. The love story is predictable, though. Subtitles.
The Tin Drum (1979)
Based on a novel that won a Nobel Prize. A 3 y.o. in a 1927 German/Polish town manages to stop growing, and remains 3 through WW II. Editing is a little slow, and a 20 y.o. in a 3-y.o. body is unevenly rendered, but it's gripping, endearing, moving and entertaining. Good feel for those times. Some well-done semi-formalist scenes and political/social commentary. Noteworthy cinematography. Charming wackiness.
Train of Life (1998)
A fable-like story of the people in a remote Jewish village during WW II. When the German close in, they decide on a bold -- and wacky -- escape by means of faking their own deportation. The boundary between role-playing and reality can get a tad blurry... Good chars, plot and dual funny/serious role. Charming, wacky, funny, moving and occasionally even sexy.
The Truce (1997)
Powerful, poignant, well-crafted story of the lengthy return voyage home of an Auschwitz survivor at the end of WW II. Moving, endearing and charming characters.
U-571 (2000)
Engaging, well-crafted action/adventure thriller about a special op during WW II to capture an Enigma machine from a disabled German U-boat. A young not-yet-skipper finds he must prove his mettle. Intelligent action fare. High-budget: they even bought a real Enigma machine! Ocean shots done in Malta.
Underground (Yugoslavia)
A group of people hide in a cellar during WW II, and are duped into believing that the war lasts many more years. The oddball chars and plot convey quite well the absurdity of the war, of the communist era and the eventual disintegration of Yugoslavia. Full of charming tidbits (in the chars and cinematography) but rather slow, long and confusing at times. Powerful, poignant indictment of mass insanity.
Winter in Wartime (2008)
Engaging, intelligent drama about a 14-year-old boy in occupied Holland during the last winter of WW II. As the son of a mayor who's keeping in reasonably good terms with the Germans, he has it relatively easy - nonetheless, he wrestles with family loyalties, and choices between safety and courage, especially when an RAF pilot crash-lands nearby. At that point, the boy immediately assumes all of those adult responsibilities which involve some moral dilemmas for him and for his family.
I dedicate this post to the loving memory of my friend Karen.
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| Karen visiting the grave of her idol, Marilyn Monroe |
A fellow WW II history buff - Karen, while still alive, inspired this blog post.
She loved to dress up in 1940's garb - and it looked great on her!
In a cruel twist of irony on the WW II theme, she - like the millions in that war - died a tragic, senseless death.
On Nov. 9, 2022, sweet Karen joined her idol Marilyn Monroe... both plucked out of their lives in their mid 30's 😠😠ðŸ˜
In excellent health (and boosted against Covid, but apparently not bothering with flu shots), my friend went to Disneyland in the fall 2022 - her very first time there : she was so excited; she had saved up money for that trip, for a long time! She caught the flu early on, got better, didn't think much of it, then got worse again - a co-infection, it turned out! By the time she finally sought treatment, she had descended into septic shock, then a coma. With dim prospects of recovery, they eventually "pulled the plug".
RIP, Karen! 💔
I had known her for almost exactly 10 years, to the day of her death.
I hope that her story builds awareness that "flu isn't just a cold", nor something just for "old, frail people" to worry about!
SEPSIS kills! We must stop these senseless deaths! My hat off to anyone working to root out this killer: according to NIH, at least 1.7 million adults in the U.S. develop sepsis, and nearly 270,000 die as a result (article.) I hope that my own research project on Systems Biology might some day contribute...
Some recent hope, though alas too late for poor Karen: FDA Breakthrough Designation for Sepsis aiMarker : a Diagnostic Tool for Early Sepsis Detection
We miss you, Karen!
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