They Shall Not Grow Old: Blu Ray Review

They Shall Not Grow Old: Blu Ray Review

Sir Peter Jackson's harrowing, haunting and ultimately humbling documentary about those who went off to World War I is a must-see.

Recolouring footage from the museums and using archive interviews, Jackson pulls together a coherent narrative and fascinating portrait of army life.

The coup de grace comes when the "weedy, sallow, skinny children" are brought to life with colour, their time in the trenches imbued with pathos as well as pastels.

Jackson's to be lauded for not shying away from the brutalities of war either - bodies are seen, flies hanging around them and blood staining their clothes; every moment is writ through with humility and humanity.

Not once do the filmmakers resort to cheap tricks to bring their story to life. Respectfully selecting clips and chat with the soldiers, there's a veracity in They Shall Not Grow Old which is hard to ignore.

An essential viewing experience, They Shall Not Grow Old is the gold standard of war documentary making. By keeping every single face alive, and by never shirking from the horror (a returned soldier from the front walks past the camera, his hands visibly trembling), the film's an urgent portrayal of war life and a humbling salute to the bravery of those involved.