Passchendaele is a 2008 Canadian war film from Alliance Films, written, directed by and starring Paul Gross. The film, which was shot in Calgary, Alberta, Fort Macleod, Alberta, CFB Suffield, and in Belgium, focuses on the experiences of Gross's grandfather, Michael Dunne, a soldier who served in the 10th Battalion, CEF in the First World War at the Battle of Passchendaele (also known as the Third Battle of Ypres). The film opened at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 4, 2008 and was released in Canada on October 17, 2008.
Production
August 20, 2007 was the first day of production as determined by Alliance Films, AstralMedia, and the other companies involved. Principal photography for the film began in Calgary, Alberta. Shot over a period of forty-five days. Battle scenes were filmed on the Tsuu T'ina native reserve just outside of Calgary and principal photography wrapped in October 2007.
Inspiration
This film was inspired by Gross's relationship with his grandfather. Like many veterans, he was reticent about sharing his experiences with his family. In a rare conversation on a fishing trip, Dunne told the story of bayonetting a young German through the face and killing him during a battle. A long time later, as Dunne lay in hospital bed in the last days of his life, his family was mystified by Dunne's behaviour, asking forgiveness over and over. Only Gross knew that he was speaking to the young German he had killed.[1]
"He went completely out of his mind at the end. He started telling me about a hideous event that happened during a skirmish in a little ruined town in World War I. He'd killed someone in a miserable, horrible way and that had obviously haunted him throughout the rest of his life. As my grandfather died, in his mind he was back in that town, trying to find a German boy whom he'd bayonetted in the forehead. He'd lived with that memory all his life - and he was of a time when people kept things to themselves. When he finally told the story, it really affected me and I've not been able to get it out of my head."[2]
Funding
In November 2005, the Government of Alberta announced a $5.5-million grant to Gross and the film project as part of Alberta's centennial; the overall budget has been announced at between $16 million and $20 million, making it the highest-budgeted Canadian-produced film ever. The film was publicly announced at a news conference at the Museum of the Regiments on November 13, 2005.
"The province's centennial is a time to recognize our past and tell our stories, including those about Alberta's military heritage. We must work to keep our veterans' sacrifices in the forefront of our minds. The story of Passchendaele pays tribute to a key event in our country's history, and will educate Albertans and all Canadians for years to come." - Premier Ralph Klein
Synopsis
The main character is Sergeant Michael Dunne, introduced in the spring of 1917 after Vimy Ridge, a decorated veteran of the 10th Battalion, CEF. Sent home from Europe as a neurasthenia patient, he meets nurse Sarah Mann in Calgary, Alberta, where he enlisted.
Mann is cashiered from military service because her father had left Canada to rejoin the German Army in 1915. He was killed at Vimy Ridge. She has become addicted to morphine as a means of dealing with the recurring loss in her life.
David Mann is Sarah's younger brother; ineligible for military service due to asthma and desperate to win the respect of his girlfriend's father in a time when military service was expected of all young males, a series of events places him in the trenches in France, with Michael Dunne returning to France to watch over him, and Sarah returning to duty. The three arrive in Europe in time for the Third Battle of Ypres, and the fighting near Passchendaele.
Historical background
The 10th Battalion was originally formed from Albertans, Saskatchewans and Manitobans, though as the war progressed it became identified solely as an Alberta battalion. The "Fighting Tenth" served with the 1st Canadian Division and participated in all major Canadian battles of the war, and set the record for highest number of individual bravery awards for a single battle. At Hill 70, sixty men were awarded the Military Medal for the fighting there, in addition to a Victoria Cross, three Distinguished Service Orders, seven Military Crosses, and nine Distinguished Conduct Medals.
"Named for a village located on a low rise in the Ypres Salient, the very word Passchendaele has become synonymous with suffering and waste. Strong German defences in this area, developed over the course of more than two years, gave the British extremely hard going. "The Tenth Battalion were called out of reserve to assist an attack on Hill 52, part of the same low rise Passchendaele itself was situated on. The Battalion was not scheduled to attack, but the CO wisely prepared his soldiers as if they would be making the main assault - a decision that paid dividends when the unit was called out of reserve. On 10 November 1917, the Tenth Battalion took the feature with light casualties."[3]
Accuracy
The battle scene at the end of the movie depicts a relief of the 8th Battalion, CEF (known by their nickname "The Little Black Devils") by the 10th Battalion, an action that actually happened, as described by the history of the 10th Battalion:
Lieutenant Colonel Ormond, the Commanding Officer of the 10th (also a character in the film) gave a handwritten account of the relief in which he said:
Reception
Passchendaele received mixed reviews from critics. As of January 28, 2009, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that critics gave the film an average of 5.6 out of 10, based on 6 reviews.[6] As of April 26, 2009, voters at IMDb have given it an average of 7.1 out of 10, based on 1,950 votes.
Box office
In its opening weekend, Passchendaele grossed $847,522 in 202 screens in Canada, ranking second at the Canadian box office behind Max Payne.[7][8] As of January 22, 2009, the film has grossed $4.45 million.[9], accounting for half of 2008's box office revenue from made-in-Canada anglophone films.[10]
Awards
On March 2, 2009, Paul Gross was honoured for his film Passchendaele, winning this year's National Arts Centre Award for achievement over the past performance year.[11]
At the 29th Genie Awards, the film won the Achievement in Art Direction/Production Design, Achievement in Costume Design, Achievement in Overall Sound, Achievement in Sound Editing, and Best Picture.[12] It also received the Golden Reel Award for Canada's top-grossing film of 2008.[13]
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If you enjoyed this here are two other related films
The Great war was devastating for a whole generation of Canadians. It
Andre Raymond from Canada - 20 May 2009has rarely received treatment on the big screen or on television in
works of fiction. Passchendaele is a rare exception. Here are a few
exceptions for those of you who may be interested in learning more.The Wars (1983) based on the novel by Timothy Findlay was an early
attempt. It benefited from some early federal government tax incentives
back when the Canadian film industry was struggling to define itself
and compete against the big Hollywood money machine.Going Home (1987) is a little known film starring Nicholas Campbell (of
DaVinci's Inquest). It is worth a viewing. An intense, superb drama.
The battlefield sequences (in flashback) are wrenching.The Halifax Explosion shows the war at home. The returning hero,
disillusioned and bitter must keep silent about his terrible
experiences or be branded un-patriotic. His family and neighbors do not
want to know about the real war, they prefer to be cushioned by the
propaganda and lies they are being fed by King and Country. Then the
horror of War follows him home when two munition ships explode in
Halifax harbor.All three films are very much worth a look.
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