Hope and Glory

John Boorman gave us films like "Deliverance," "Excalibur," and "The Emerald Forest," but this is his finest. He shows us what war feels like to a nine-year old kid who views his family and others around him in all their naivete, pluck, heroism, pettiness, and humanity. Just because World War II is on and the neighborhood is being bombed by the Germans doesn't mean that people aren't still people. And while their lives are deeply disrupted, kids still play and get into mischief. The period recreation is terrific as are the performances, especially Ian Bannen as the cantankerous grandfather. Parts of this movie are laugh out loud funny (favorite line: "Thank you, Adolf!"), others gently touching. One of my favorite films of all time. It merits re-watching.

Hope and Glory is one of my favourite films and gets a rare airing tonight on satellite's FX UK channel at 9pm. I saw it 18 years ago on its release and numerous times since and it still takes a place in my fav. top 10 of all time. The settings are truly wonderful, the humour as British as it gets and a performance by Ian Bannen that shows what good British acting is all about. His naming of former love conquests at the family Christmas party is one of cinemas funniest pieces of comedy. The cast is perfect and the whole film is a joy from beginning to end. It was deservedly nominated for a Best Picture Oscar and although failed to win would have been my choice. Highly recommended.

I think those criticizing the light tone of the war scenes are missing the point. The story is told through the eyes of a boy (semi-autobio of John Boorman, the director), and is based on his recollections of what happened to his family and neighbors during the start of World War II. It's a difficult film to describe since there is no real plot, just a series of funny, touching, sad and humorous vignettes in how the boy and his family coped with what he personally thought was a great adventure. In many ways, it reminded me of the way EMPIRE OF THE SUN was told from the boy's viewpoint, although that film grappled with much darker themes. Here the accent is not on tragedy but on the human spirit and survival during a difficult time on the homefront. Boorman wrote and directed it with skill and the very British cast is excellent. Well worth seeing for another perspective on WWII, British style.

Maybe it's just because of my love for history, but I really enjoyed this movie. I can understand why some may not, since it has a sort of anti-ending and very little actual 'plot.' The film is simply the portrayal of daily life for a London family--a collection of character subplots, basically. It doesn't sound like much, but the film's strength is its characters. Besides the main little boy, there's the overzealous father, the sexually-liberated teenage sister, a hilarious grandpa, a gang of far-from-innocent little boys, and others. Overall, watching this movie is like stepping back in time and sneaking a peek into everyday life.

John Boorman is impossible to categorize. From his spaced out ZARDOZ to DELIVERANCE to EXCALIBUR, this wildly ambitious director hasn't met a subject he's afraid to tackle. Here, the film maker delves into his past, delivering the story of a boy growing up in WWII England. Directed in a style that is nostalgic and innocent, HOPE AND GLORY displays a brighter side of human conflict. Watching the picture, it is obvious Boorman approached this highly personal material with the utmost of care. Nonetheless, if you're looking for a heavy drama, this is not the place. Many scenes (if you're not in the mood for them) can become a bit difficult. In other words, you're feeling as if you're watching someone's home movie. However, this should not detract from the talent of a true cinematic master, John Boorman. We love you, John Boy. Give us more!