World War Two

The series exploring cinema by genre looks at the portrayal of World War II, revealing the myths, propaganda and rise of realism in the war film. British wartime films were made as propaganda but also drew on a strong documentary tradition. Germany's Das Boot showed war not as heroic action, but as days of tedium in cramped conditions, interspersed with terrifying action. More recently Hollywood's Saving Private Ryan showed a realistic and harrowing portrayal of the D-Day landings.