There are so many insights in this film that could only come from actual experiences, which they did -- Director John Boorman's childhood memories during the early days of World War II. It takes place between September 3, 1939 when Chamberlain announced that Britain had declared War on Germany, and November 1942 when Churchill gave his "End of The Beginning" speech. The boy Bill's family is a Working Class family in London, the ones who suffered the most during the Blitz. Bill has two sisters, one who is younger, and a particularly precocious 15-year old sister. Sarah Miles is especially believable in the role of the children's mother, but the entire cast is very, very good. It's an entirely British cast, and besides Ms. Miles, Ian Bannen (who portrays the grandfather) is the only other actor that American theater-goers might have been familiar with. In the recounting of events, the strength of character of the British people is very evident. Any Britisher should be proud.
Review of Hope and Glory
