November 11. A day marked on Canadian calendars as Remembrance Day. Why do we call it this? Well, it’s the day that World War I officially ended. We keep this day as a way to remember the sacrifices of the soldiers who fought in the war. This day has evolved over the years to include remembrance of other significant wars in Canadian history. We remember those who fought in the South African War, World War II, the Korean War, and the ongoing Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
Because of these conflicts, many of us here in Canada live a comfortable and free life. Without the sacrifices of those who went to war, we might not be where we are today. With the uniqueness of 2020 many of the ways we traditionally acknowledge this day are impossible but there are still many ways, we can honour the fallen.
One of the ways I know best is film. While war isn’t something to be taken lightly, film is the only way many of us will ever experience the horrors of war. Here are a couple of war films you can watch on Remembrance Day to honour the past.
All Quiet on the Western Front
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For a movie that came out all the way back in 1930, it doesn’t pull any punches. The charge scene is one of the most brutal things I’ve ever seen on film. While it’s not gory and shocking like modern war films, there’s just something about the black and white and no dialogue that makes it feel like archival footage and not a movie. Also since it was made so close to the events it portrays (World War I), it has a sense of realism that most modern war movies don’t have. The film won two Oscars for its efforts and landed on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years… 100 Movies list in 1998.
Grave of the Fireflies/Barefoot Gen
I’ve listed two films here because they’re very similar and you can’t really have one without the other, but at the same time, they approach their subject matter very differently. They both follow the same event and subsequent effects of it. Each follows the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan at the end of World War II. Each film follows children as they try to navigate their way through the ruin of this tragic event.
Grave of the Fireflies takes a much different approach, focusing more on the family aspect of things. It really tugs on your heartstrings and is more subtle with the anti-war themes. I would actually say it’s one of the saddest films I’ve ever seen.
YouTube / Madman Anime
Barefoot Gen is a lot more graphic in its rendering of the war. The bomb drop scene is one of the most intense scenes I’ve ever sat through. It’s also much more vocal about its anti-war themes. It also possesses a much more lighthearted ending that gives hope rather than tears.
YouTube / Konstantin Pichugin
Not only have these films helped us in the Western World understand the Japanese perspective, but they have also played a huge role in helping the Japanese deal with these tragedies too.
The Great Dictator
Charlie Chaplin’s first jump into “talkies” was an epic satirical comedy about Nazi Germany. While this is technically not a World War II movie, one can certainly see the similarities. It stars Chaplin as the dictator himself, Adenoid Hynkel, and as a lowly Jewish barber who happens to look exactly like Hynkel. The movie was released back in 1940, right in the middle of the war, which is crazy because Chaplin had the guts to criticize Hitler while he was still in office. This movie is most well known for it amazing inspirational speech at the end.
YouTube / Charlie Chaplin
Downfall
On the direct opposite side of the coin from The Great Dictator, is Downfall. This film offers an extremely realistic take on the final days of Nazi Germany. It is more of a political drama than a war epic. It’s told from the perspective of one of Hitler’s secretaries and gives us an inside look into what was going on in those last few moments of his life. Bruno Ganz gives an astounding performance as Hitler which I’m sure was an extremely taxing role to play.
YouTube / AMBI Distribution
Life is Beautiful
This movie follows a father and son as they are taken into a concentration camp during World War II. In order to preserve his son’s innocence, the father tells him it’s all part of a game they’ve been selected for. This movie will play with your emotions a bit. It’s a comedy, a drama, and a romance all in one. One moment you’re laughing and the next you’re crying. It’s not the greatest put together film but the ending of the movie is absolutely perfect and makes the whole thing worth it.
YouTube / Movieclips Classic Trailers
Of course, these are just my picks and there are so many other movies you could watch too. Saving Private Ryan, Schindler’s List, or The Pianist are great choices for World War II. It is also a good idea to explore things through the lenses of other cultures which is why I’ve included so many foreign films on this list. Some other great ones to check out are: The Human Condition, Come and See, or Land of Mine.
So this year while we sit in isolation I hope you’ll check out some of these movies. Film is a great way to connect with these past memories without having to actually live them. It’s the only way most of us will ever get to see a glimpse of what it might’ve been like.
Let us know in the comments if you check out any of these movies! Or hit us up on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
As I said earlier, war isn’t something to be taken lightly so please use this day as a time to reflect on what we have and what those brave people fought for. It’s not just a day off from work and school to watch movies.