The movie "Passchendaele"

[ccga3359]

I just purchased a copy of the movie Passchendaele. It's a Canadian production so it might be difficult to find in the UK or US. It follows the story of one Canadian soldier played by Paul Gross (who also wrote, directs and produces) during WWI. It is fictional but the character is based on Gross' grandfathers experiences. In the opening scene we do see a kilt worn by a headless corpse later identified as a member of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment, Canada). The battle scenes are more than worth the 114 minutes whereas I found the middle of the movie a little trite with the main character back in Alberta battling his demons and with all the main characters then in Belgium on the eve of the battle of Passchendaele. Aside from that I urge all my Canadian friends watch it to remember those who fought. It was at this time that the sacrifices were downplayed by the government and the media as it led upto the conscription crisis of 1917.

[The Wizard of BC]

Grant, I too have seen that movie. For what is essentially a one man production. (Paul Gross wrote, directed and stars in it) it was not a bad film.
I agree with you that the parts where the main character are in Calgary are long winded, and story development slow I was very impressed by the attempt to re-create a WWI battlefield.
We now know that far more of the battle happened underground in tunnels than what happened on the surface but they did manage to create enough mud to give the sense of what the surface looked like.

All in all, worth the rental fee just to watch the special "Making of" documentary.

[Galician]

Wow, he does another Canadian-themed work! I remember and enjoyed his work in "Due South" where he played a Mountie stationed in the U.S.A. (Chicago?)

I guess he is one patriotic Canadian!

[ccga3359]

Wow, he does another Canadian-themed work! I remember and enjoyed his work in "Due North" where he played a Mountie stationed in the U.S.A. (Chicago?)

I guess he is one patriotic Canadian!

We all are, we just a little subdued about it.

Steve I agree with you for one man's efforts it is a good film and at $20 million it's the largest budget ever for a Canadian film. Even with 5 times that budget I doubt he could've recreated the accuracy of the battlefield any better.

I did a search to see if somebody had already mentioned the film and I came across PiobBear's tribute. Well worth a second or third reading especially since that outrageous diatribe on FoxNews some weeks back. Thankfully he did edit out what was otherwise distracting from a sobering post.

[Macman]

Thanks for bringing that movie up, Grant. My wife and I watched it a week ago and both enjoyed it. My granddad was at Passchendaele with the 31st (Alberta) Battalion, CEF, so it was a special movie for me.

[Colin]

I haven't seen the film yet, but I was in the Flanders area of Belgium last month.

I enjoy Paul Gross's work. H2O was a bit interesting and Men with Brooms was a fun film for anyone that grew up around curling or any kind of ice sport. Good ol' Canadiana

I guess he is one patriotic Canadian!

We all are

Hear!Hear!

[David Dalglish]

My wife & I were at Passchendale last June--It's an Emotional place when you walk around Tyne Cot Cemetery & see all the men from all allied countries who died so young

[Flag Folder]

I just searched netflix for Passchendaele but they don't have it yet, I'll keep checking. I have very little knowledge of WW1 and appreciate the opportunity to learn more.
I did find Due South and look forward to viewing several episodes.

Bruce

[McMurdo]

I saw this the when it came out on DVD I always wanted to see it in the theater but something always came up, I too liked the battle scenes more than the scenes back home, all in all a good film, and the mud sure looked about right from all the photos I've seen of WWI battlefields.

[Nerts]

Watched it a couple of weeks ago and thought it was brilliant! Paul Gross is an awesome actor and apparently a great writer and director as well. I haven't seen Men With Brooms yet but will change that immediatley. Haven't heard of H2O though.

E.