War of Words: Soldier-Poets of the Somme
Documentary detailing the experiences of the poets who served in the Battle of the Somme, including Siegfried Sassoon, Robert Graves, David Jones, Isaac Rosenberg and JRR Tolkien.
The 1916 Battle of the Somme remains the most famous battle of World War I, remembered for its bloodshed and its limited territorial gains. What is often overlooked, however, is the literary importance of the Somme: more writers and poets fought in it than in any other battle in history.
Narrated by Michael Sheen, this film details the experiences of the poets and writers who served in the battle. The work of Siegfried Sassoon, Robert Graves, David Jones, Isaac Rosenberg and JRR Tolkien (who arrived at the Western Front with ambitions to be a poet) was informed and transformed by the battle. Taken together, their experiences allow us to see this dreadful historical event through multiple points of view.
The film uses animation, documentary accounts, surviving artefacts, battalion war diaries and the landscape itself to reconnect this literature to the events that inspired it.
Last on
Clips
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Louse Hunting
Duration: 03:17
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Tolkien's Last Battle
Duration: 02:27
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The Death of 'Tommy'
Duration: 04:26
War poetry in virtual reality
The film contains an聽anthology of poignant war poem animated by BAFTA and RTS Award winning animation house BDH.聽BDH have also聽published a virtual experience available for download (Android only).
War of Words聽executive聽producer聽Michael聽Poole says:聽"Using virtual reality to explore one of the most hard-hitting poems to come out of WW1 really enhances the power of Siegfried Sassoon鈥檚 words. We really hope that people, young and old, will find this an illuminating experience to coincide with the 成人快手's Remembrance Season."
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Narrator | Michael Sheen |
Producer | Sebastian Barfield |
Producer | Peter Barton |
Executive Producer | Michael Poole |
Broadcasts
Featured in...
Battle of the Somme Centenary
Programmes commemorating and shining a light on the WWI battle, 100 years on.
Director's Notes
"Poetry remains an incredible resource that allows us to explore the Battle of the Somme"