As an amateur military historian and film critic I think "A Very Short War" is one of the best WW2 documentaries I've ever seen. Here is the story of Cliff Carpenter, an aviation pioneer who in 1930 built his own monoplane in his garage! A man who was an obsessed aviator, barn-stormer and one of the first to join up to defend Europe against Nazi aggression. The truly great aspect of this documentary is it never descends into sentimentalism yet is, by it's well presented facts and understated interviews, a throughly moving and poignant tale of what a wonderful life Cliff Carpenter might have had, had he not volunteered for the fatal flight that was to snuff out his young life. The fascinating interviews unfold a story of incredible sadness when we learn he was mere months away from marrying his Australian sweetheart. I only know Director Bill Young's work as a dramatic stage and film actor and here he shows us another aspect of his talents. Young narrates but does not intrude into the telling of Cliff's story, letting the facts and the people concerned paint the picture for us. An outstanding documentary that made me want to know more of this rarely visited theater of WW2.
Review of A Very Short War
A Very Short War
(2010)
Brilliant History And A Touching Story Of Lost Love
17 June 2010
Warning: Spoilers