Knit to This
Five Came Back
With Memorial Day upon us, I’d like to encourage everybody to take the time to watch Five Came Back. I wrote about it a while ago, but I mention it again because it is really, really moving. I watch a lot of movies, but few make such an impression on me.
The trailer is up top. (Go to Netflix to view the series.)
In Five Came Back, five modern-day directors discuss the five film directors who spent World War II making films about the war as it happened.
What a list:
- Francis Ford Coppola on John Huston
- Lawrence Kasdan on George Stevens
- Spielberg (the co-producer of the documentary) on William Wyler
- Paul Greengrass on John Ford
- Guillermo del Toro on Frank Capra
This is all so fascinating—these directors were already famous when they went off to war. During their tenure on the battlefield, they created documentary films, recruitment films—and even evidence, in the case of George Stevens, who had the stunning poise, presence of mind, and ability to document the liberation of Dachau. He filmed evidence that would later be used to prosecute war crimes.
Memorial Day is about remembering Americans who died while in military service. Five Came Back honors those soldiers, and it reminds us that even a Hollywood movie director can serve his country.
Such a great recommendation – thanks, Ann!
I know what I’m watching tonight.
When people say “Happy Memorial Day” it drives me crazy. You don’t have to be solemn and weepy, but the day is a day of remembrance. War is not a happy thing. Better to say, “Have a pleasant Memorial Day.”
It drives me crazy too. This day is to remember fallen soldiers. Not active duty soldiers, not the first day of summer. I am an Army wife and mom of an active duty soldier. I take the holiday to heart.
Thanks for the reminder. My father was among the American troops who liberated a concentration camp, and like many veterans of that conflict (as well as others) he never talked about it. There was once a documentary on PBS detailing the route of the 3rd Army … he began to watch, then once they got to the camps, he got up from his chair, and went to his desk to work. Went to Yad Vashem in Israel and couldn’t stay in the building, he told my mother he could still smell the stench. Supported the Holocaust Museum in DC.
Sigh. This is Memorial Day Weekend … and we should remember. I processed yellow arm bands at work, and the objects were chilling.
I see less and less men with poppies at the supermarkets, though. Found one, and it’s displayed in the Mom is the family Uber driver car.
I watched this after your first recommendation, and agree with all you say about it.
Thanks for the recommendation,I just watched the first episode, it was excellent.
Thank you for this recommendation. Hubs and I binge-watched it. Very moving.
Thank you, we are watching this. Engrossing.
I just heard the interview with the author on Fresh Air – it was a book first, then a documentary. I think I might have to check out the book.
During the Great War, my grandfather and his four brothers all enlisted and only one did not come home. I have my grandfather’s Purple Heart but he never would talk about his experience