french film festival time - and for me a very sombre start
the program suggesting this the best ever documentary on ww1
500 hours of now colourised footage condensed into 5 episodes
i approach this with some trepidation - but anxious to learn more
the opening scenes of part 1 - fury - striking in the clarity and realism
people throughout europe enjoying the heat of the summer in 1914
with that a sense of engagement with these people a century ago
looking so contemporary rather than some distant and dark time
their kings and leaders also seen in clear and fascinating detail
the french commentary (sub-titled) somehow aiding authenticity
it's been 50 years since the last major european war - napolean
but there's war-mongers looking to crank up the military machine
the assassination of franz ferdinand of austria in serbia an excuse
germany keen to assist austria in a punishing move on the serbs
but russia feels the need to protect their slavic compatriots
france an ally of russia and england an ally of france - it's on
this despite the kings of england, germany and russia all cousins
mind-boggling really and the slide into war happening so easily
the impressive footage continues to roll as europe heads to war
all sides expecting no more than a few months of actual hostility
in part 2 - fear - the war grinds on and the casualties mount
trench warfare explained and shown - and other victims too
women left to build weapons, horses cruelly used and killed
more countries are conscripted or join up for national gain
others punished for being colonies of european superpowers
japan as england's ally attacks a german occupied port in china
and then after a taste of success goes deeper into the mainland
future leaders - churchill, hitler shown in footage or photos
the complex situation explained both clearly and chillingly
including the suicidal folly of the anzac landing at gallipoli
the war driven by military men or industrialists with influence
a clear and stark parallel with the world a hundred years later
depressing - yes - but also equally engaging and informative
another film that just feels so essential and totally relevant
without a doubt the colourisation the main factor for that
the sound of the times also given high-tech enhancement
sadly not a big crowd in this sunday morning viewing
but i suspect every one of us will be back for part 2
classic film festival programming - see it or miss it
so glad i did - just hope it hits the mainstream
or schools - should be compulsory viewing
a modern day apocalypse - and a warning...
