What the rediscovered Calling Blighty films of WW2 say about remembrance and the Northern voice.
What is it about?
The Calling Blighty films of WW2 were filmed messages from Burma where servicemen spoke to their families, for the first time, openly in their own accents in a Skype like way. My project to trace the relatives of the men and recreate the screenings in local cinemas, illuminates much about the nature of remembrance and the portrayal of open male emotion on screen.
Why is it important?
These films have been uncovered by regional archives and screened publicly for the first time in 70 years. The relatives of the men on screen came together to mourn and celebrate them, the first films featuring men speaking openly and in an uncensored way in British documentary. The article explores how the film fit into documentary wartime production and how they subtly affect remembrance over 70 years later.
Perspectives
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1750635218763222
The following have contributed to this page: Steve Hawley
