- My Account
- Logout
- Register
- Login
Quiet reality of an unquiet time
31 January 2008
A prize-winning British festival entry in 1975, Stuart Cooper's war movie looks even better now than it did then, since its Second World War combat scenes, culled from German and British archival documentaries, make its fictional story seem extraordinarily real.
John Alcott, Kubrick's cinematographer, shoots the rest in pale black and white, which matches the original footage superbly.
We follow a young and diffident middle-class man (Brian Stirner) through his military training, see the tedium of his waiting for combat, his short moments of liberty, a hesitant, achingly brief romantic interlude with a girl (Julie Neesam) at a dance and his stoic acceptance of possible death when battle commences.
The whole looks and feels totally authentic and is all the better for refusing heroics. It's a quiet film about an unquiet time and very well worth reviving.
Overlord
Cert: 15
Comments
Top stories in Arts
Top stories in Arts
-
No end to Tube nightmare as commuters warned of MORE chaos tonight
-
Double dip recession is worse than feared as UK faces ‘hurricane’
-
They attacked "like a pack" raining fists on a defenceless legal secretary. Yesterday they walked free from court. No wonder their victim says she has been denied justice.
-
Mayor demands report from Transport for London into Jubilee Line nightmare that left hundreds of commuters trapped for hours underground
-
Author Will Self flees with his children after roof of £1million Georgian Stockwell townhouse collapses
The O2
Check out the cool stuff happening under our tent such as the hottest gigs, comedy, sport, films, clubs, bars, restaurants and much more.
Can you imagine a career in teaching?
Be inspired to teach - let real teachers show you how rewarding the job can be.
Playing a game-changing role during the Games
Cisco is providing the solutions for London 2012's complex IT needs.
Win a Silverstone track day with Zantac 75
Feel the burn of a different kind - 20 Silverstone motoring experiences to be won
Reader Offers email A fantastic selection of
offers, giveaways and
promotions.
Cannes Film Festival - in pictures
Biggest ever image of the Queen, and she also appears made out of stamps, cheese and BEER
Man v Woman v Food: the big burger challenge
New kids from the Bloc: new wave of Russians settling in London
London drug dealer pictured himself with bags of cannabis and wearing crown of £20 notes
BarChick: Janet's Bar