Paul Gross Stars In Passchendaele
Canadian History Never Looked So Good
The movie was inspired by a true story. Paul Gross’ grandfather Michael Dunne fought in World War I, and bayoneted a young German soldier in the forehead. He confessed it to Gross when he was young. Then when his grandfather was on his deathbed he muttered to himself asking for forgiveness. Only Gross knew why.
Passchendaele’s Romance, and Accuracy
The true story described above forms the opening scene of the movie. After stabbing the soldier, Dunne (Paul Gross) is wounded and sent home to a military hospital in Calgary. At the hospital he meets a nurse Sarah Mann (Caroline Dhavernas), and the pair falls in love.
After being declared fit for duty, Dunne is sent to work at a recruitment office. When he meets up with Sarah’s asthmatic brother David (Joe Dincol) wants to sign up, Dunne refuses to do so. A David return with a doctor’s note declaring him fit for duty and is signed up without Dunne’s knowledge. When Dunne discovers what David has done, he signs up and is re-deployed to the front with him. Sarah (Dhavernas) signs up as an army nurse and is deployed to the front. She sees Dunne (Gross) and they declare there is only one rule: “Don’t Die.”
Dunne and David are deployed on the battlefield at Passchendaele, and there a pivotal scene takes place. David stumbles into a German trench. German troops were about to shoot him, when they came under shell fire, so strong it moved David making him appear as if he were hung on a cross by the Germans. Dunne makes his way across a wet, muddy battlefield to rescue David. Dunne shoulders David, eventually making his way back to the hospital where Dunne dies.
Love is the main theme of this movie. David signed up for the army to prove his love for Cassie (Meredith Bailey); Dunne resumed his place in the army to protect David. Patriotism or love of country inhabits the whole movie.
Paul Gross was extremely accurate with details. The extra on this is a behind-the-scenes documentary on the film was made. One historian said if you held up a picture of the battlefield at Passchendaele, with one of the field they constructed for the movie and said you couldn’t tell the difference. The language was reminiscent of the times, as were the costumes.
Canadian History Can Look Like That?
Aside from history-buffs, who can honestly say they know about the battle of Passchendaele?
Taking a lesser- known event in Canadian history and make it look like something out of an exciting Hollywood movie is a rare feat. It forces viewers to look at it in wonder saying to themselves: Canadian History can look that? This reviewer says: Yes it can, and there should be more movies like this.
Passchendaele is for sale or rent on DVD and Bluray at your local video store.
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