Review by Ceri Wheeldon

Stills credit: © Graeme Hunter Pictures.

There has been so much written about Winston Churchill, and so many portrayals of him in Film and TV, that you have to wonder how a film could bring anything fresh to its audience.

Interestingly, focuses on just part of Churchill’s history…the build up to the D-Day landings.  Brian Cox’s portrayal of Churchill is superb  and believable.

The film starts some three years after the Blitz at a time when everyone , including Churchill , is fatigued by the war.  The Americans have joined the war effort and Churchill is no longer centre stage – that mantle has been passed to Montgomery.

The sacrifices Clementine Churchill had to make

We see Churchill managing his frustration at coming to terms with the new order of things , and his wife (played by Miranda Richardson) manage his ego. This film makes you aware of the sacrifices Clementine Churchill had to make in order to support and in some instances rein in her husband – as she helped him cope with the physical and mental exhaustion he was having to deal with.

As the strategy for the D Day landings is pulled together we see the  arguments for and against being presented – and  Churchill having to come to terms with past failures as he contemplates the cost of potential failure on this occasion, both from the impact on the overall war – and the loss of human life.

Ultimately, we see in this film how the reality of how Churchill’s input  into the strategy of the war has diminished at this stage, and yet his ability to communicate and be seen as a leader by the people increases.  Brian Cox delivers Churchill’s speeches to perfection.   It also brings home how tight the resources were, and how creative they had to be in the absence of the  technology we take for granted today.

An interesting film, showing  the build up to the D -Day landings in incredible detail.

I was invited to visit Churchill’s war rooms – unfortunately I wasn’t able to attend, but Geoff Moore, who is  a travel writer I met on a  recent press trip to Spain with Silver Spain, and who just happens to love war history, popped along – he shared his experience at the war rooms with Fab after Fifty.

Ceri Wheeldon

Ceri is Founder and Editor of Fabafterfifty.co.uk She is a frequent speaker at events and in the media on topics related to women over 50 , including style and living agelessly. With 20+ years experience as a headhunter Ceri also now helps support those looking to extend their working lives.

More Posts - Website

Follow Me: