NFB Documentary ReviewNFB Documentary Review

War and Peace: Break-War and Peace: Break-throughthrough

• Question: Question: This film documents a turning point in the war: the This film documents a turning point in the war: the landing at Normandy. It is different from the other NFB World War landing at Normandy. It is different from the other NFB World War II documentaries in this collection because it reports a specific II documentaries in this collection because it reports a specific event, as a newsreel would. Do you notice differences in the way event, as a newsreel would. Do you notice differences in the way information is presented, compared to information is presented, compared to Inside Fighting Canada, for Inside Fighting Canada, for instance? instance?

• Answer: Answer:

• Break-through Break-through recites important information in chronological recites important information in chronological order.order.

• It documents an important event in particular. It documents an important event in particular.

• The footage given from The footage given from Inside Fighting CanadaInside Fighting Canada is mostly aerial is mostly aerial but but Break-throughBreak-through has video clips from many different angles. has video clips from many different angles.

War and Peace: Break-War and Peace: Break-throughthrough

• Question: Question: who created this message?who created this message?

• Answer:Answer:

• James Beveridge, co-founder of the National Film Board of James Beveridge, co-founder of the National Film Board of Canada.Canada.

Figure 1: D-Day Landing

War and Peace: Break-War and Peace: Break-throughthrough

• Question: Question: What creative techniques are used to attract my What creative techniques are used to attract my attention?attention?

• Answer:Answer:

• Using different filming angles.Using different filming angles.

• Showing many effects of the war on the country and the Showing many effects of the war on the country and the people.people.

• Depicting tragedy and devastation of the war, as well as Depicting tragedy and devastation of the war, as well as the success of the allied troops. the success of the allied troops.

• The voice and narration allow for a better understanding of The voice and narration allow for a better understanding of the topic and gives accurate and understandable the topic and gives accurate and understandable information. information.

War and Peace: Break-War and Peace: Break-throughthrough

• Question: Question: How might different people understand this How might different people understand this message differently from me?message differently from me?

• Answer:Answer:

• The topic is easily understood and not hard to follow The topic is easily understood and not hard to follow therefore I don’t think that other people would interpret therefore I don’t think that other people would interpret this video differently than the way I did. this video differently than the way I did.

War and Peace: Break-War and Peace: Break-throughthrough

• Question: Question: What lifestyles, values and points of view are What lifestyles, values and points of view are represented in, or omitted from, this message?represented in, or omitted from, this message?

• Answer:Answer:

• ““In war as in peace, strength lies in hope, and it is the In war as in peace, strength lies in hope, and it is the wisest propaganda which keeps men rich in hope....”wisest propaganda which keeps men rich in hope....”

• "The Film at War," in Forsyth Hardy, ed, "The Film at War," in Forsyth Hardy, ed, Grierson on Grierson on Documentary, Faber and Faber, London & Boston, 1979, pp Documentary, Faber and Faber, London & Boston, 1979, pp 88-8988-89

War and Peace: Break-War and Peace: Break-throughthrough

• Question:Question: Why is this message being sent? Why is this message being sent?

• Answer:Answer:• This documentary was created to bring attention to the war and This documentary was created to bring attention to the war and

to the efforts being made by the allies troops. to the efforts being made by the allies troops. • Because of this, it also sends the message of hope to the victims Because of this, it also sends the message of hope to the victims

of the war. of the war. • ““But my hope has been that the film would also be used more But my hope has been that the film would also be used more

and more to secure the future and serve the still wider needs of and more to secure the future and serve the still wider needs of the people of Canada. War films, yes, but more films, too, about the people of Canada. War films, yes, but more films, too, about the everyday things of life, the values, the ideals which make life the everyday things of life, the values, the ideals which make life worth living.”worth living.”

• "The Film at War," in Forsyth Hardy, ed, "The Film at War," in Forsyth Hardy, ed, Grierson on Grierson on Documentary, Faber and Faber, London & Boston, 1979, pp 88-89Documentary, Faber and Faber, London & Boston, 1979, pp 88-89

Works CitedWorks Cited

• Figure 1: Figure 1: http://www.thedctraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/d-http://www.thedctraveler.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/d-day-landing-june-1944-omaha-beach-in-normandy-france.jpgday-landing-june-1944-omaha-beach-in-normandy-france.jpg