From director Alex Helfrecht and writer/producer Jörg Tittel, Battle for Britain is a superb short film about a Polish RAF pilot, a veteran of what Winston Churchill memorably described as the country’s ‘finest hour’.
The story of Poland’s contribution to the successful defence of England’s skies in the Second World War is one that has been all but scrubbed from the history books. Rather than tackle the subject head on, Battle for Britain evokes a sense of sadness, pride and nostalgia for the actions of these forgotten heroes.
Shot in butter-hued 35mm, the film takes place in Oxford, where Mr. Rogulski (Julian Glover) celebrates his 101st birthday by striking up an unlikely friendship with a teenage boy. An act of petty betrayal soon leads to a stark choice for the old man, whose decision speaks to a broader sense of cultural reconcilement.
The film is all the more relevant given the shifting dynamic of the UK’s contemporary Polish community, which has taken root in the country since the opening of EU borders. Illuminating, poignant and warmly acted by the legendary Julian Glover, Battle for Britain is the kind of short film that leaves a lasting impression.
For anybody quick off the mark, a few tickets are still available for the film’s World Premiere at Hammersmith’s Riverside Studios on December 1. It will be followed by a panel discussion hosted by our very own editor Matt Bochenski, and a special 35mm screening of the star-packed 1969 classic Battle of Britain.
To book tickets check out the film’s official website: battleforbritain.net
Battle For Britain (text) by LWLies is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
What is the chances this could be shown at the Polish club in Glasgow.
Written by stephen stelmaszuk on June 12th, 2011 at 00:19