Aired on PBS’s NOVA series, filmmaker John Hayes Fisher’s documentary retraces the extraordinary events of May 1940, when hundreds of thousands of Allied troops trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk, France, were rescued by a combination of Royal Navy vessels and an armada of private boats. As years went by, the Dunkirk evacuation took on mythic proportions, culminating in Christopher Nolan’s 2017 epic Dunkirk. Great Escape at Dunkirk seeks to correct many inaccuracies that have clouded the story of the evacuation, most notably the incorrect assertion that the Royal Air Force (RAF) did not offer protection to the stranded soldiers facing Luftwaffe bombing. The excavation of a recently discovered wreck of a Spitfire jet is used here to strengthen the claims of RAF heroism during this campaign. Also included is coverage of the work of archeologists, divers, and historians in locating the remains of ships, airplanes, and personal effects of the men involved in this endeavor. Drawing on newly declassified information, the film offers a fresh new look at a seminal moment in World War II history. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
Great Escape at Dunkirk
(2018) 60 min. DVD: $24.99 ($54.99 w/PPR). PBS Video. SDH captioned. ISBN: 978-1-5317-0294-6. Volume 33, Issue 5
Great Escape at Dunkirk
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