Search icon

Movies & TV

02nd Feb 2019

Peter Jackson’s excellent World War I documentary is on TV tonight

Dave Hanratty

A must-watch.

In a week in which Peter Jackson was announced as the director for a new documentary on The Beatles, it feels fitting enough that a recent non-fiction work of his is under the spotlight again.

First released last year, They Shall Not Grow Old is a seriously impressive depiction of World War I, as Jackson repurposed 100-year-old footage by colourising it and adding sound.

The result has been hailed as a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience, while the film was met with considerable critical acclaim.

The Hollywood Reporter described it as “an immersive primer on the first-hand experiences of soldiers” one that is “a haunting, moving and consistently engaging lesson in how to bring the past vividly alive.”

Check out the trailer below.

Clip via Warner Bros. UK

In case you missed They Shall Not Grow Old’s limited run in Irish cinemas, we have some good news for you as BBC Two will air the film tonight – Saturday 2 February – at 9pm.

The project also includes archive interviews with servicemen from the BBC and the Imperial War Museum.

It really is essential viewing for documentary fans and cinephiles alike, whatever your level of history knowledge. Don’t miss this one.

LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge