War is perhaps the most psychologically turbulent of all human experiences. Few other events in the course of a human life can evoke and polarize such a wide gamut of emotions. War makes us feel deeply the grip of fear, hatred, love, betrayal, excitement, pride, and much more.
Filmmakers have not been oblivious to this emotional minefield. They have in fact charged full speed through it over the last century, each time hoping to trigger an explosion of emotion in the millions affected or fascinated by war. On national days of remembrance, such as Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day, millions of people mark the holidays by squeezing in a visit to a war memorial