– Brought to you by Angie Amlani
May 8th marks the 70th anniversary of Germany’s unconditional surrender of its armed forces to the Allied Powers—most notably Britain, US, France, China, and the Soviet Union—signalling the end of one of the greatest battles of the 20th century: World War II.
Tonight’s MMN contenders represent but a small sample of films made in memoriam of this historic fight, and include choices ranging from a great American drama set in the streets of Morocco to a crude fictional assassination plot of Nazi Germany’s political leadership directed by the subject of last week’s MMN, Quentin Tarantino.
1. The Thin Red Line (1998) 140min:
Terrence Malick’s adaptation of James Jones’ autobiographical 1962 novel, focusing on the conflict at Guadalcanal during the second World War. 140 min
2. The Dirty Dozen (1967) 150min:
A US Army Major is assigned a dozen convicted murderers to train and lead them into a mass assassination mission of German officers in World War II.
3. Inglorious Basterds (2009) 153min:
In Nazi-occupied France during World War II, a plan to assassinate Nazi leaders by a group of Jewish U.S. soldiers coincides with a theatre owner’s vengeful plans for the same.
4. Casablanca (1942) 102min:
Set in unoccupied Africa during the early days of World War II: An American expatriate meets a former lover, with unforeseen complications.
5. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) 141 min:
The story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as old from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.
6. The Big Red One (1980) 113min:
The story of a sergeant and the inner core members of his unit as they try to serve in and survive World War II.
7. The Boy in Striped Pajamas (2008) 94min:
Set during World War II, a story seen through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.
8. Grave of the Fireflies (1988) 89 min:
A tragic film covering a young boy and his little sister’s struggle to survive in Japan during World War II.