A Cinema Salute to Soldiers

Posted on November 11, 2011 | CineCause

A CINEMA SALUTE TO SOLDIERS

War is a difficult subject, period. We all know what the word means, and know Veterans Day is national holiday. I wonder, though, who remembers the real history behind it. A quick refresher for us all:

In the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary peace was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War. And what started as Armistice Day on November 11th of the following year, became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In 1954, in the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars.

Something else I wondered. For those of us who never had to fight in a war, is it possible for us to truly appreciate the sacrifice, loss, honor, anger, and range of trauma that soldiers would endure as a result of this experience?

I had several relatives enlisted in different wars, but they didn’t talk about it much. It was only in the movies that I could really get some fraction of an understanding, even if it meant connecting to fictional characters. Sure, narratives are dramatized, but there have been some amazing documentaries made in the last few years, with real heroes sharing their stories.

Below, you will find a small tribute showcase for Veterans Day. Have a look at the trailers here and feel free to click the link to learn more about the movies and their related causes – and of course, you can follow links to watch the film.

I recently had the opportunity to present one of them (The Welcome) at the Naples International Film Festival. This is one of the most powerful documentaries I have ever seen. In the intimate Q&A sessions that followed, I couldn’t help but notice the river of tears shed by the audience. They were truly moved. And this was confirmed when the festival later presented the film with the Audience Award at the Closing Ceremonies.

Over the years, the War genre has been embraced by audiences. For starters, All Quiet On The Western Front (1930), From Here To Eternity (1953) and Bridge Over The River Kwai (1957) all succeeded at the box office, won Oscars for Best Picture, and were selected for preservation in the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry.

Taking this list a step further, here’s our top 20, with links to their trailers:

The English Patient *

Dr. Strangelove

Born on the 4th of July

Saving Private Ryan