By: Alex Phuong –
First of all, World War II was a rough time. In fact, the Holocaust made life even harder back then. Nevertheless, many compelling films are set during that difficult era. Fortunately, some of them have enduring and historical legacies.
One of the most notable films that focus on World War II is the 1962 classic The Longest Day. In fact, this “Best Picture” nominee was a major triumph from Twentieth Century Fox even though this particular film premiered during the chaotic production schedule of Cleopatra (1963). However, The Longest Day provided insight into what D-Day must have looked like in 1944.
For contemporary audiences, many film lovers in 2021 admire and respect Steven Spielberg. For example, Schindler’s List is a widely celebrated modern classic based on the novel Schindler’s Ark by Thomas Keneally. Furthermore, the film adaptation won seven Academy Awards, including “Best Picture.”
Since Spielberg is a masterful director, it is no surprise that he would win another Academy Award for directing one of the best World War II films of all time. That film is Saving Private Ryan. This film has such a strong fan base that many modern critics and audiences wonder how this film lost the “Best Picture” Oscar to Shakespeare in Love. (Maybe Harvey Weinstein… perhaps?)
During 1998, a foreign-language film provided a unique perspective to life during World War II. That film is Life is Beautiful. The title itself might sound cliché, but that particular film does reveal the beauty of life in spite of the tension that had existed alongside that traumatic war.
After World War II ended, the publication of Anne Frank’s diary revealed her intelligence, and also revealed her reflections on what it means to be human. After the success of the publication, the 1959 film version based on the diary revealed what it must have been like to suffer during the Holocaust. Fortunately, the film allowed Shelley Winters to win her first Academy Award for her supporting role as Mrs. Petronella Van Daan (even though that name was actually a nickname that Anne Frank created for confidentiality reasons).
Even within the twenty-first century, films set during World War II provide a dramatic look along with amazing narratives. For example, Atonement (2007) is a popular example of a romantic war drama, while Dunkirk (2017) allowed Christopher Nolan to earn Oscar nominations for producing and directing that modern World War II war drama.
Finally, World War II undeniably changed the world, and that also applies to the cinematic world!
