World War One: The People's Story

A powerful production created as part of the observance of the centennial of World War I, this four-part ITV-aired series draws on the letters and diaries of British men and women, focusing on 12 main characters. One of the most memorable stories told here centers on Private Reg Evans, who was injured in battle and later underwent pioneering plastic surgery. Along with other harrowing tales of the carnage that men faced on the frontlines, World War One also considers women whose lives at home changed dramatically during war-time. The emphasis here is on those who challenged the social status quo of the times, including vegetarian restaurant owner Hallie Miles and war reporter Dorothy Lawrence (who posed as a soldier), although the saddest narrative is about Essex housemaid Emily Chitticks, whose fiancé went to war and never returned. By comparison, the letters from Winston Churchill during that era lack the emotional angst and warmth of the everyday people that kept the war machinery in motion. A cast of acclaimed actors including Brian Cox, Romola Garai, and Matthew McNulty appear in dramatic re-creations of these first-person accounts, while Olivia Colman provides sensitive narration. DVD extras include a viewer's guide. A handsomely produced and often heartbreaking series, this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (P. Hall)