egafd.com

very moving programme watched a bit last night.

Agreed Steve, I watched too.
Respect to those boys.

A great homage to the men who died in the first world war is the film
"Oh what a lovely war". An ironic title of course.

Directed by Richard Attenborough and based on the play by Joan
Littlewood, I have to say it is one of my favorite films.



It is not a standard war film in any sense, and as well as showing the
horror of war also shows the humour, songs and comradeship.

It shows the "Smith" family (who come from all walks of life and represent
the British working man) and how the war affects them.

It is actually set on Brighton Pier and uses the pier as a sort of metaphor
for the war. When the war starts it is sunny and everyone cannnot wait to
enter, but as the war drags on it rains, and nobody wants to come.

Often scenes start on the pier and are fairly light hearted and humourous,
but then with dramatic effect cut to the actual battlefield where the war is
taking place.

It shows the stupidity and arrogance of the generals, who are more
interested in getting one over on the other generals than worrying about
the thousands of men that are being killed.

The numbers killed at each battle are shown on a cricket scoreboard.

You never see anyone killed. instead you hear a gunshot and then the
camera pans across to a poppy, or group of poppies.

And I defy anyone NOT to get a lump in their throat at the ending.

"and when they ask us how wonderful it was, they'll never believe us,
they'll never believe us"