Seen from a different camera angle
From now on, I’m going to be less trusting of the history I’ve been taught. There’s something about the colour of a story, once the politicians have been given a chance at the crayon box.
For the last two evenings, we’ve been watching a new documentary series prepared by National Geographic: Apocalypse. The producers have managed to unearth footage not seen before (in this part of the world), adding nuance to the story of good vs evil in World War Two. You see, I’m of an age where we learned history from comic books and television; a nasty combination, pedagogically.
The series doesn’t change the outcome. “We still won” can continue to serve as the motto for the West. However, for the first time we’re getting to see film shot by all parties involved. Unlike the model world of Sgt. Rock and other DC heroes, there were actually real people involved, and the push and shove could have gone either way.
I’m especially fascinated by the use of colour film at all levels; I spent the first decade of my life convinced that the world of the 1940’s was one of grey on black, just like on TV. In this documentary, building are on fire with “real fires”. The uniforms have colour in their insignia, and blood (on all sides) ran red. To go into battle, carrying a movie camera; that took bravery.
According to the TV guide, there are two more episodes left. I intend to watch, because my curiosity has been tweaked. Somehow, the story of Russia was left out in the war films of my childhood… I wonder why?
