English Rose

After the end of the Second World War, an English soldier embarks on a dramatic journey home.

 

World War II has just ended and William (Bowes) is a soldier in the British Army and has found himself alone in a country in Europe, after being separated from his comrades. He moves on foot (and is followed by a German soldier) and stumbles upon an abandoned village. There, he encounters a wounded British soldier and engages in an emotional conversation with him. As William continues his journey, he will encounter danger and blissfulness.

 

This short drama deals with the aftermath of WWII, seen through the eyes of a British soldier. The story is basically a journey that explores the damage that war does to the world, the purpose of fighting and the joy that people get from their loved ones. As William talks to the injured soldier, the two of them build a rapport and have contradicting opinions regarding why they fought. The soldier believes that it is pointless, while William explains that it is for a better future. This strong scene reveals the brutal impact armed conflict has on those involved and the courage required to achieve victory. Later on, William comes face to face with the German soldier who has been stalking him and this scene appears to show that the war is over and humanity along with goodwill has risen again. The final scene is very heart-warming and represents the peace that has arrived with the end of the war.

 

Bowes delivers a dramatic performance as a man who has been through terrible experiences due to battles and is motivated by the desire to return to his wife and daughter, as indicated by the picture of them that he has on him. He has seen enough atrocities and wants to live in peace from now on.

 

Evans does a terrific job with the directing and creates some wonderful establishing shots, which look even better thanks to his impressive cinematography. The film makes effective use of out-of-focus techniques and there are beautiful scenes with slow motion and where diegetic sounds disappear and Ross Baillie-Eames' dramatic and tense music takes over, which includes piano melodies. Praise also goes to the realistic uniforms and weaponry.

 

This is an anti-war film which uses a soldier's journey home in order to examine the physical and emotional devastation that war has on people. It is a moving story about courage, self-reflection, death, family, honour and patriotism and it will most likely move the audience.