War Game (film)
War Game is a 2001 animated short film made by the British animation company Illuminated Films, and based on the Michael Foreman novel of the same name. The film included many of the same scenes listed in the book, although four new characters were created. It features the voices of Elle Fanning, Adam Godley, Colin McFarlane, and Kate Winslet
| War Game | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Dave Unwin |
| Produced by | Iain Harvey |
| Written by | Michael Foreman (book), Simon Nicholson (screenplay) |
| Starring | Iain Jones Adam Godley Ben Warwick Colin McFarlane Kate Winslet |
| Narrated by | Elle Fanning |
| Music by | Julian Nott |
| Edited by | Taylor Grant |
| Distributed by | First Run Features |
Release date |
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Running time | 29 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
Plot
In the summer of 1914, four teenaged boys (Will, Freddie, Billy, and Lacey), are out playing a game of football when they discover their opponents intend to enlist the British Army in light of the outbreak of the First World War. On their way home, a singing Kitchener springs from his poster to tell Will that he should 'play the game' (go to war). The young men have initial doubts about becoming soldiers but are persuaded to join up at a recruitment event. That evening, Will and Lacey inform their family of their enlistment. While their father wishes them well, and their sister Annie cries, their mother (voiced by Kate Winslet) tells her sons that war is not a game, and that they will be killed. But regardless, the boys leave for France, where they encounter hardships of the trenches, shooting competitions with the Germans, and bully beef.
On Christmas Day, a German soldier walks onto the battleground and invites the English soldiers to a football match. However, the match is broken up by the commanding officers, and the soldiers return to their trenches. Next time they enter No man's land it is to go into battle and they are cut down by artillery and machine gun fire. Lacey, Freddy, and Billy are killed instantaneously. Will is severely wounded, and lies in a shell crater with a German soldier. They exchange photos from home before both men die of their wounds.
Dedication
The DVD cover[1] has the dedication: "In memory of my uncles who died in the Great War. William James Forman, killed aged 18, Frederick Benjamin Foreman, killed aged 20, William Henry Goddard, killed aged 20, Lacey Christmas Goddard, died of wounds Christmas Day 1918, aged 24."
Awards
The film has won numerous awards including the Children's Choice Award at the British Animation Awards, Best Television Special at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, the International Student Jury Award at the Banff International Television Festival, Best Production of the Year at the Cartoons on the Bay Festival in Italy and 1st prize at the Cinemagic Festival in Belfast.[2]
Notes
- War Game (Media notes). Dave Unwin.CS1 maint: others (link)
- Illuminated Films