Somewhere, a war. Three soldiers walk along a river. They have lost contact with their platoon and are trying to catch up with it. They talk about life, dream of returning home, but danger still surrounds them: death and life are so close.
This film tells the story of lieutenant Stefan Wyszynski (Ksawery Szlenkier) - the future Primate of Poland, unknown to a wider audience. It is 1944, in the heat of war, we meet a young priest Wyszynski, who has recently been appointed chaplain of the branch in the Kampinos Forest. It is also active in the insurgent hospital. Everyone knows him there under the pseudonym "Radwan III". The reality of the war is for Fr. Wyszynski, a forge of character, a fight for hope and love, especially against enemies. How are we to forgive in everyday warfare? The hero asks, turning to the Source of his vocation.
World War II, occupied Soviet Union. István Semetka is a simple Hungarian farmer who serves as a Sub-Lieutenant in a special unit scouting for partisan groups. On their way to a remote village, his company falls under enemy fire. As the commander is killed, Semetka has to overcome his fears and take command of the unit as he is dragged into a chaos that he cannot control.
Unfolding over the span of 36 hours in three separate wars – The American Civil War, World War I, and Iraq – FOXHOLE follows five soldiers confined in a foxhole as they grapple with morality, futility, and an increasingly volatile combat situation. Casting the same five actors in each episode, the film depicts the shifting roles of race and gender over time against the backdrop of the seemingly endless human struggle for power and domination. (Olivia Belluck)
For 70 years, the Red Army was one of the pillars of the USSR, an object of both fear and admiration, a symbol of both liberation and coercion. This documentary explores its history, combining epic storytelling with the deconstruction of myth. While everyone knows that Trotsky's name is attached to his creation, contrary to popular belief, the bulk of his story is made up of defeats and military failures. Thanks to an all-archival montage, this film is a veritable immersion in the heart of...
Palestine, 1948. After the withdrawal of the British occupiers, tensions rise between Arabs and Jews. Meanwhile, Farha, the smart daughter of the mayor of a small village, unaware of the coming tragedy, dreams of going to study in the big city.
Marking the 20th anniversary of September 11, this two-hour documentary presents a unique and moving account of the day that changed the modern world. Featuring rare footage and audio, “9/11: I Was There” unveils an intimate portrayal of the events of September 11 captured by ordinary people who chose to pick up their video cameras that day; some courageous enough to get a closer look. Told in the moment without interview, commentary or narration, this riveting documentary weaves together the personal video diaries of a dozen people whose emotions are remarkable documentation of that dark day. A truly extraordinary portrayal, “9/11: I Was There” puts viewers in the shoes of New Yorkers and visitors alike to unfold the tragedy, the fear of what was next and the horrific aftermath to follow resulting in a raw and unfiltered telling of 9/11 from confusion to comprehension, terror and relief.
On September 14th, 2001, several days after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, President Bush visited New York. In that bereaved city, he stood atop Ground Zero's rubble and delivered an impromptu speech that would comfort and unite America.
During World War I, a group of British miners are recruited to tunnel underneath no man's land and set bombs from below the German front in hopes of breaking the deadly stalemate of the Battle of Messines.
World War II. In autumn 1941 the German troops completely surrounded one of the biggest Russian cities — Leningrad. 2,5 million civilians got trapped in the city. The German commandment decided to destroy the city with bombings, artillery attacks and, most importantly, with hunger. The most difficult first winter of the siege (1941 — 1942). A young woman Olga is walking through the whole city to her father. She wants to see him one last time to say goodbye and to ask for his forgiveness.
November 11, 1918, Germany capitulates. The armistice is signed. In the days that follows, the General Staff send a letter: France must honor the memory of its soldiers by naming an unknown soldier. In an infantry regiment based in the Somme, Corporal Solal and the soldiers Malard, Klein, and Maestracci, are appointed to scour the battlefields in search of the ideal corpse.
Following in the footsteps of two women in search of their origins, this documentary lifts the veil on a little-known page of the post-war era: the adoption, as part of a cross-border program, of thousands of children born during the French occupation of Germany.