The Great war was devastating for a whole generation of Canadians. It has rarely received treatment on the big screen or on television in works of fiction. Passchendaele is a rare exception. Here are a few exceptions for those of you who may be interested in learning more.
The Wars (1983) based on the novel by Timothy Findlay was an early attempt. It benefited from some early federal government tax incentives back when the Canadian film industry was struggling to define itself and compete against the big Hollywood money machine.
Going Home (1987) is a little known film starring Nicholas Campbell (of DaVinci's Inquest). It is worth a viewing. An intense, superb drama. The battlefield sequences (in flashback) are wrenching.
The Halifax Explosion shows the war at home. The returning hero, disillusioned and bitter must keep silent about his terrible experiences or be branded un-patriotic. His family and neighbors do not want to know about the real war, they prefer to be cushioned by the propaganda and lies they are being fed by King and Country. Then the horror of War follows him home when two munition ships explode in Halifax harbor.
All three films are very much worth a look.
The Wars (1983) based on the novel by Timothy Findlay was an early attempt. It benefited from some early federal government tax incentives back when the Canadian film industry was struggling to define itself and compete against the big Hollywood money machine.
Going Home (1987) is a little known film starring Nicholas Campbell (of DaVinci's Inquest). It is worth a viewing. An intense, superb drama. The battlefield sequences (in flashback) are wrenching.
The Halifax Explosion shows the war at home. The returning hero, disillusioned and bitter must keep silent about his terrible experiences or be branded un-patriotic. His family and neighbors do not want to know about the real war, they prefer to be cushioned by the propaganda and lies they are being fed by King and Country. Then the horror of War follows him home when two munition ships explode in Halifax harbor.
All three films are very much worth a look.