Netflix viewers left ‘deeply moved' by ‘immersive' documentary depicting WWII like never before
Britain and the Blitz is now available to stream on Netflix, and it features vividly restored archival footage and firsthand accounts of WWII
Netflix's latest offering is a gripping World War II documentary featuring newly restored archival footage that promises to be one of the most immersive films on the subject.
The streaming giant has colourised film and unearthed rare interviews to narrate the story of everyday life during Germany's relentless bombing of Britain from 1940 to 1941.
With VE Day just around the corner this Thursday (8th May), it's an ideal moment for history buffs to delve into some crucial wartime history, and Netflix's fresh release, Britain and the Blitz, is sure not to disappoint.
Director Ella Wright delivers a poignant and powerful portrayal of the British spirit through the eyes of real-life survivors of the Blitz, including the young Eric Brady, who was only five when his school was hit, and Edith Heap, a 21 year old Royal Air Force plotter, among other resilient Brits.
The synopsis teases: "This immersive documentary brings history to life through vividly restored archival footage and firsthand accounts of WWII Britain during the Blitz", reports the Express.
In a glowing recommendation, Decider tells Netflix fans to "stream it", praising the film for its "intimate details of survival within a larger story we're likely already familiar with, namely, Britain's seemingly improbable ability to withstand dozens upon dozens of bombing raids spread out over 240 days during 1940-41.
"The individual accounts of these people don't just emphasize what happened during that time – they share personal stories of love and romance, of tragedy and heartbreak, as these people, all notably quite young, came of age during a time of extreme hardship that ultimately defined the rest of their lives."
A fan on Letterboxd gave it four stars, saying: "Netflix finally does good - an excellent documentary about the Blitz of Britain from September 1940 to May 1941.
"Taking a page from Peter Jackson's They Shall Not Grow Old, the film has been nicely colourized with actual recordings of newsreaders over archival films as well as interviews with many Blitz survivors, many of which had to be done in the past as most Blitz survivors would be in their 80s and 90s if not older. One survivor, Edith Heap, actually made it to 100 in 2018."
The Irish Independent concurred: "Director Ella Wright uses techniques pioneered by Peter Jackson to create an immersive, deeply moving experience."
An IMDb review highlighted the film's unique approach: "Britain and the Blitz is not your 'ordinary' war documentary - it does not focus on; strategic decisions, frontline fighting action or the ongoings in the minds of people on the battlefield. Rather it focuses on the social and fatiguing aspects of life during wartime. It does so pretty well.
"BatB offers no insights into the rationale of 'this type of warfare' - it does however offer a few compassionate glimpses into the world of those affected.
"In so doing it offers a different kind of insight into the effects of war and tells a story that, arguably, should be told more often."
One viewer on X (formerly Twitter) hailed Britain and the Blitz as a "hard-hitting, historical, cinematic masterpiece".
Another fan suggested: "If anybody is interested and you have Netflix. Watch Britain and the Blitz. It's fascinating.
"People that were there, tell of what they lived through and it's just amazing what Britain and London went through for 8 months to save their country."
Britain and the Blitz is available to stream on Netflix.
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