Hope and Glory

An astonishing film from one of the best directors around: John Boorman (“Deliverance” “Excalibur” “The Emerald Forest”). The picture is loosely based on Boorman's recollections of life in London during wartime--World War II that is, the Battle of Britain. It focuses on one family, and primarily on the children in the family; indeed, things are seen through their eyes, and fine narration is provided by the little boy, now all grown up. The child's eye view of events allows us to see things with unmatched clarity, without the editorializing and interpretation that an adult would add to the observations. Thus we get a crystalline view of the incredible trials that Londomers had to live through during the barrage, as well as the fortitude they needed to survive, the courage and the humor they needed to muster while their lives were being ripped apart around them. Yet we see all this through eyes that view air raid drills as a game, antiaircraft fire as a light show, and shrapnel as treasure. The ingenuousness of the response makes the adult world (as they both create and react to the war) seem all the more tragic and sad. But in the end the film lives up to its title; there is hope at least, though glory is hard to come by, except perhaps to five year old eyes. The human will to survive, and the British will to carry on does indeed triumph. But what is most remarkable about the: picture is that despite the horror, the children never lose their "childness.” They are really the Hope and the Glory of the picture, as they adapt far better than their adult counterparts. Granted that they are able to do so in part because they are spared the larger view, and not forced to take responsible action (indeed, are looked after) but the message that comes through is that children will always be children, indomitable in their own way. This is a story that could have been told anywhere, but the fact that it takes place during one of the primal experiences of modern urban life makes it all the. more memorable. Never have I seen a picture that so clearly captured the innocence and cruelty of youth. Not to be missed.