This movie has been vastly mistaken by most people as merely a documentary. It is a true story, told through interviews with people involved with English Bomber Command and more specifically, the Lancaster Bomber.
Using these interviews and remarkable footage, it manages to be touching, light-hearted and exciting. All the while teaching us a history lesson I doubt many know in much detail.
The interviews were with members of the crew of the Lancaster bombers as they look back in time. This is not all sad stuff. Moments are light-hearted but the essence of the film is the attitude of the men when they were young men ready to give it all for the sake of England.
The footage of the planes in flight,; the exploding shells over the skies of Germany or England is astounding and really needs to be seen on the big screen.
The use of music and sound in the film is restrained and appropriate – it could easily have spoiled the film if too loud. The sound is realistic and the music, especially the song sung over the closing credits, is touching.
The production team behind this film are also responsible for Spitfire.
This is the best film I have seen this year and probably the best “war film” I have ever seen.
(Header image of a cemetery Coolangatta, Queensland, Australia).
Nick Scott Nick Scott has a B.A from The University of Waikato where he studied film under Sam Edwards. Nick has retained a keen interest in cinema. He studied Te Reo Maori at Te Wananga O Aotearoa part-time for 3 years and then from 2014 to 2016 Nick collaborated in writing “The Traveller’s guide to Maori Place Names”. Nick is a regular Film Reviewer on ARTbop and has contributed an episodic novel “Temple’s Job”, a creative’s Q&A and a short story Doppelganger (in WORDS)
“When I go to the large, country-style funeral of the late airman, survivor, family man and community participant, 96 year old, Squadron Leader Les Munro, the bunch of black and Air Force blue ribbon-tied rosemary I place on top of his flower-covered coffin is not for him: it’s for the crew of the Wimpy Z1596.
Pilot: Pilot Officer Ian James Shepherd NZ/404414 RNZAF Timaru Age 26 Killed
Observer: Pilot Officer Reginald Sidney Lees NZ/404907 RNZAF Matata Age 26 Killed
Wirless Operator/Air Gunner: Pilot Officer Norman Bruce Robertson NZ/411101 RNZAF Mairoa Age 25 Killed
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner:Sergeant “Sonny” James Francis Winstanley NZ412373 RNZAF Huntly Age 20 Killed and
Air Gunner: Sergeant John Dixon 613966 RAF Age PoW No25165 Camp: Stalag Lamsdorf (1”
ARTbop
