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The Great War

Name: The Great War
Director: Rob Rapley, Amanda Pollak, Stephen Ives
Released: 2017
Duration: 360 min

Representation Score

4.3/10

Fair

2017

TV-PG

Director

Rob Rapley, Amanda Pollak, Stephen Ives

Runtime

360 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Great War serves as a traditional historical documentary that prioritizes historical accuracy over modern social commentary. It succeeds in humanizing the era through personal diaries and letters, offering a vivid look at the psychological and physical trauma of trench warfare. However, the film's perspective is rooted in the Eurocentric and patriarchal norms of the early 1900s. While it captures the personal experiences of individuals, it largely mirrors the established hierarchies of the time rather than broadening the narrative to include diverse global voices.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Great War have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film reflects the societal norms of the early 20th century, which assume everyone is straight or cisgender. It does not highlight LGBTQ+ identities or same-sex relationships.

How does The Great War portray gender?

Fair

Men play key roles in combat, while women are shown mainly in nursing and domestic settings. The film follows the gender roles of the time.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Great War?

Limited

The film focuses on Anglo-European and Western Front perspectives. It does not significantly highlight colonial troops or non-Western participants.

How does The Great War represent religion and culture?

Limited

Religion, class, and patriotism are presented as core social elements. The film emphasizes the human cost of war without critiquing Western dominance.

Does The Great War include disability representation?

Fair

The documentary highlights the physical and mental disabilities resulting from the war. These are portrayed as central, devastating consequences of the conflict.

Present on Screen

Highlights the physical and psychological impact of shell shock.
Uses personal archives like diaries and letters to humanize the historical narrative.
Shows meaningful representation of women in non-combatant roles such as nursing.

Limited or Absent

Does not significantly feature colonial troops and non-Western participants involved in the conflict.
Maintains a Eurocentric perspective that overlooks the global diversity of the war's participants.
Focuses on traditional gender hierarchies, emphasizing male roles in the primary military narrative.

Official Synopsis

Drawing on unpublished diaries, memoirs and letters, The Great War tells the rich and complex story of World War I through the voices of nurses, journalists, aviators and the American troops who came to be known as “doughboys".

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