THE PLOT THUS FAR
On June 6, 1944, thousands of Allied servicemen landed on the shores of northern France with a mission to free western Europe from Nazi tyranny. Over the ensuing hours and days, the men faced decimating machine-gun fire, mortars and artillery, eventually fighting their way inland, but not before suffering a staggering number of casualties.
Day of Days: June 6, 1944 commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landing by bringing together American D-Day veterans to share their experiences from that fateful day. As they vividly recall details from their ordeal–from the perils of the amphibious assault to the invasion’s gruesome aftermath–their testimony yields long-buried and often painful memories. They recount their transformations from boys to men, reveal their uneasiness with the term “hero,” and grapple with why they survived when so many others did not.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“Day of Days” continues to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Normandy that happened about a month ago. Way to keep it timely, PBS. Basically, there’s a lot of recounting and older people remembering that time when Germans were paid to shoot at them. Innocence was lost and farmboys got the chance to see Europe without having to visit a Hostel. While it’s interesting, it keeps being the same thing.
At this point, I’m near saturation with D-Day coverage. Excuse me, as a veg out a bit. It’s not a condemnation of this documentary, it’s quite good. I just can’t spend forever in the land of The Greatest Generation and “Saving Private Ryan”.
The DVD comes with a newsreel about the Normandy Invasion and a trailer as the special features. The A/V Quality is pretty strong for a documentary. The Dolby track is supportive with its surround design. However, the transfer feels a little flat, but typical. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to the curious.
RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW!