There is a scene in this documentary where a WWI soldier, a survivor that could be near or over one hundred years old, sits in front of a camera reading from a postcard. This postcard was a letter home, written by the soldier to his mother and sister. It is a short piece of agony—detailing the bad life in the trenches—well delivered by the weak and aging voice of the old soldier. This postcard, as small as it is in size and as brief a number of lines, still draws a tear from the reader. With the camera held artfully at a low angle, we are treated to a moment—a moment so brief that if you blink you will miss it—where the horrors of war, the sadness of a young boy ripped from his family, and all those years that came after he wrote the letter, crowd his aging mind.
The moment I speak of encapsulates this documentary. "Killing Fields: The First World War" tells the story of young men and women—but mostly men—who fought, lived, and died in the trenches of WWI. Unlike most WWI documentaries, "Killing Fields" tells the story of the war through the eyes of the ground soldiers, and the affects that it had upon these soldiers and their families. There are so many touching stories in this wonderful documentary it may require two viewings to catch all of them.
"Killing Fields" is apart of the People´s Century documentary series and it spans from the beginnings of the war in 1914 and ending with the final shots in 1918. What is special about this particular episode is that it is not about the grand strategies of generals, politicians, and royal families; it is entirely about the average man and woman, the seventy million soldiers from more twenty countries. From the slaughter of soldiers by machine guns to the end results of failed strategy, nearly every aspect of the lives of soldiers is discussed in detail by living eyewitnesses.
These eyewitnesses who are given very close to equal time in order to tell their sides and experiences come from France, Germany, America, and even Australia. Sure there is a sense that there is a side that the filmmakers are taking, but it is not heavy handed. These soldiers are all treated like survivors of a horrifying ordeal; they are victims of overzealous generals and nationalist pride.
The documentary also reminds the viewer that African-Americans also fought in WWI. Wonderfully we hear stories from an older African-American soldier, not just about how he fought, but about how he loved—even seventy maybe eighty years later the man kept with him a picture of his French sweetheart. He speaks about how growing up in the US he had no sense of what freedom was, but he was willing to go over seas to fight for it. It is interesting to note that the freedom or some sense of equality that he felt denied in the US was in many ways present on French soil.
The People's Century series is a co-production of WGBH and the BBC. "Killing Fields" is produced and directed by Bill Treharne Jones. The narrator, facilitating the smooth flow of the documentary is the actress Alfre Woodard. Her voice is soft and steady. She adds a gentle touch to such a horrifying subject. She is a fantastic actress and with this voice overwork she proves to be equally impressive at this task. This documentary, like the series, is crafted as an instructional piece. It does not overly provoke for any side or argument, except maybe the remembrance of those who have given their lives in a senseless war. This is not a feature length documentary, coming in at 56 minutes, but it seems just right for the classroom. This is public television at its finest.
This is not one of those boring textbooks documentaries. It does not regurgitate all the well known facts of WWI. There are little to no reasons discussed for the war and there are little to no discussions of how politics affected the course of the war. This is a film about people and how they suffered and survived. If an instructor is interested in sticking in a video to show their class the plan facts of WWI, this is not your film. This is a film made to expand the student´s scope and remind them of the human casualties of war. It would be something if a teacher would actually have the insight show this documentary rather than showing "Saving Private Ryan."
The moment I speak of encapsulates this documentary. "Killing Fields: The First World War" tells the story of young men and women—but mostly men—who fought, lived, and died in the trenches of WWI. Unlike most WWI documentaries, "Killing Fields" tells the story of the war through the eyes of the ground soldiers, and the affects that it had upon these soldiers and their families. There are so many touching stories in this wonderful documentary it may require two viewings to catch all of them.
"Killing Fields" is apart of the People´s Century documentary series and it spans from the beginnings of the war in 1914 and ending with the final shots in 1918. What is special about this particular episode is that it is not about the grand strategies of generals, politicians, and royal families; it is entirely about the average man and woman, the seventy million soldiers from more twenty countries. From the slaughter of soldiers by machine guns to the end results of failed strategy, nearly every aspect of the lives of soldiers is discussed in detail by living eyewitnesses.
These eyewitnesses who are given very close to equal time in order to tell their sides and experiences come from France, Germany, America, and even Australia. Sure there is a sense that there is a side that the filmmakers are taking, but it is not heavy handed. These soldiers are all treated like survivors of a horrifying ordeal; they are victims of overzealous generals and nationalist pride.
The documentary also reminds the viewer that African-Americans also fought in WWI. Wonderfully we hear stories from an older African-American soldier, not just about how he fought, but about how he loved—even seventy maybe eighty years later the man kept with him a picture of his French sweetheart. He speaks about how growing up in the US he had no sense of what freedom was, but he was willing to go over seas to fight for it. It is interesting to note that the freedom or some sense of equality that he felt denied in the US was in many ways present on French soil.
The People's Century series is a co-production of WGBH and the BBC. "Killing Fields" is produced and directed by Bill Treharne Jones. The narrator, facilitating the smooth flow of the documentary is the actress Alfre Woodard. Her voice is soft and steady. She adds a gentle touch to such a horrifying subject. She is a fantastic actress and with this voice overwork she proves to be equally impressive at this task. This documentary, like the series, is crafted as an instructional piece. It does not overly provoke for any side or argument, except maybe the remembrance of those who have given their lives in a senseless war. This is not a feature length documentary, coming in at 56 minutes, but it seems just right for the classroom. This is public television at its finest.
This is not one of those boring textbooks documentaries. It does not regurgitate all the well known facts of WWI. There are little to no reasons discussed for the war and there are little to no discussions of how politics affected the course of the war. This is a film about people and how they suffered and survived. If an instructor is interested in sticking in a video to show their class the plan facts of WWI, this is not your film. This is a film made to expand the student´s scope and remind them of the human casualties of war. It would be something if a teacher would actually have the insight show this documentary rather than showing "Saving Private Ryan."
There is a scene in this documentary where a WWI soldier, a survivor that could be near or over one hundred years old, sits in front of a camera reading from a postcard. This postcard was a letter home, written by the soldier to his mother and sister. It is a short piece of agony—detailing the bad life in the trenches—well delivered by the weak and aging voice of the old soldier. This postcard, as small as it is in size and as brief a number of lines, still draws a tear from the reader. With the camera held artfully at a low angle, we are treated to a moment—a moment so brief that if you blink you will miss it—where the horrors of war, the sadness of a young boy ripped from his family, and all those years that came after he wrote the letter, crowd his aging mind.
The moment I speak of encapsulates this documentary. "Killing Fields: The First World War" tells the story of young men and women—but mostly men—who fought, lived, and died in the trenches of WWI. Unlike most WWI documentaries, "Killing Fields" tells the story of the war through the eyes of the ground soldiers, and the affects that it had upon these soldiers and their families. There are so many touching stories in this wonderful documentary it may require two viewings to catch all of them.
"Killing Fields" is apart of the People´s Century documentary series and it spans from the beginnings of the war in 1914 and ending with the final shots in 1918. What is special about this particular episode is that it is not about the grand strategies of generals, politicians, and royal families; it is entirely about the average man and woman, the seventy million soldiers from more twenty countries. From the slaughter of soldiers by machine guns to the end results of failed strategy, nearly every aspect of the lives of soldiers is discussed in detail by living eyewitnesses.
These eyewitnesses who are given very close to equal time in order to tell their sides and experiences come from France, Germany, America, and even Australia. Sure there is a sense that there is a side that the filmmakers are taking, but it is not heavy handed. These soldiers are all treated like survivors of a horrifying ordeal; they are victims of overzealous generals and nationalist pride.
The documentary also reminds the viewer that African-Americans also fought in WWI. Wonderfully we hear stories from an older African-American soldier, not just about how he fought, but about how he loved—even seventy maybe eighty years later the man kept with him a picture of his French sweetheart. He speaks about how growing up in the US he had no sense of what freedom was, but he was willing to go over seas to fight for it. It is interesting to note that the freedom or some sense of equality that he felt denied in the US was in many ways present on French soil.
The People's Century series is a co-production of WGBH and the BBC. "Killing Fields" is produced and directed by Bill Treharne Jones. The narrator, facilitating the smooth flow of the documentary is the actress Alfre Woodard. Her voice is soft and steady. She adds a gentle touch to such a horrifying subject. She is a fantastic actress and with this voice overwork she proves to be equally impressive at this task. This documentary, like the series, is crafted as an instructional piece. It does not overly provoke for any side or argument, except maybe the remembrance of those who have given their lives in a senseless war. This is not a feature length documentary, coming in at 56 minutes, but it seems just right for the classroom. This is public television at its finest.
This is not one of those boring textbooks documentaries. It does not regurgitate all the well known facts of WWI. There are little to no reasons discussed for the war and there are little to no discussions of how politics affected the course of the war. This is a film about people and how they suffered and survived. If an instructor is interested in sticking in a video to show their class the plan facts of WWI, this is not your film. This is a film made to expand the student´s scope and remind them of the human casualties of war. It would be something if a teacher would actually have the insight show this documentary rather than showing "Saving Private Ryan."
The moment I speak of encapsulates this documentary. "Killing Fields: The First World War" tells the story of young men and women—but mostly men—who fought, lived, and died in the trenches of WWI. Unlike most WWI documentaries, "Killing Fields" tells the story of the war through the eyes of the ground soldiers, and the affects that it had upon these soldiers and their families. There are so many touching stories in this wonderful documentary it may require two viewings to catch all of them.
"Killing Fields" is apart of the People´s Century documentary series and it spans from the beginnings of the war in 1914 and ending with the final shots in 1918. What is special about this particular episode is that it is not about the grand strategies of generals, politicians, and royal families; it is entirely about the average man and woman, the seventy million soldiers from more twenty countries. From the slaughter of soldiers by machine guns to the end results of failed strategy, nearly every aspect of the lives of soldiers is discussed in detail by living eyewitnesses.
These eyewitnesses who are given very close to equal time in order to tell their sides and experiences come from France, Germany, America, and even Australia. Sure there is a sense that there is a side that the filmmakers are taking, but it is not heavy handed. These soldiers are all treated like survivors of a horrifying ordeal; they are victims of overzealous generals and nationalist pride.
The documentary also reminds the viewer that African-Americans also fought in WWI. Wonderfully we hear stories from an older African-American soldier, not just about how he fought, but about how he loved—even seventy maybe eighty years later the man kept with him a picture of his French sweetheart. He speaks about how growing up in the US he had no sense of what freedom was, but he was willing to go over seas to fight for it. It is interesting to note that the freedom or some sense of equality that he felt denied in the US was in many ways present on French soil.
The People's Century series is a co-production of WGBH and the BBC. "Killing Fields" is produced and directed by Bill Treharne Jones. The narrator, facilitating the smooth flow of the documentary is the actress Alfre Woodard. Her voice is soft and steady. She adds a gentle touch to such a horrifying subject. She is a fantastic actress and with this voice overwork she proves to be equally impressive at this task. This documentary, like the series, is crafted as an instructional piece. It does not overly provoke for any side or argument, except maybe the remembrance of those who have given their lives in a senseless war. This is not a feature length documentary, coming in at 56 minutes, but it seems just right for the classroom. This is public television at its finest.
This is not one of those boring textbooks documentaries. It does not regurgitate all the well known facts of WWI. There are little to no reasons discussed for the war and there are little to no discussions of how politics affected the course of the war. This is a film about people and how they suffered and survived. If an instructor is interested in sticking in a video to show their class the plan facts of WWI, this is not your film. This is a film made to expand the student´s scope and remind them of the human casualties of war. It would be something if a teacher would actually have the insight show this documentary rather than showing "Saving Private Ryan."
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