They Shall Not Grow Old

They Shall Not Grow Old is an astonishing, groundbreaking war documentary released in 2018, produced and directed by one of the most innovative filmmakers of our time, Peter Jackson. Notable for his work on the Lord of the Rings series, Jackson utilizes his expertise in filmmaking technology to breathe new life into old storylines. In this case, the focus is World War I, also known as the Great War.

The documentary features the stories of real-life soldiers who fought in the war, with their recounted experiences serving as the film's narrative thread. Soldiers like Thomas Adlam, William Argent, and John Ashby provide the heartbeat to this piece, their stories captured from original BBC and Imperial War Museum interviews. Jackson's ability to marry the voices of these brave men with startlingly honest and visceral visuals results in an astonishing, once-in-a-lifetime storytelling experience.

The most astonishing aspect of this documentary lies in its visual style. Jackson and his team worked meticulously to restore, recolor, and modernize archival footages that were once silent and propped up on shaky tripods. Now, the silent, black-and-white visuals of the brutalities of World War I have been converted into vibrant, life-like moving pictures that convey a potent and humanizing portrayal of the war. By colouring the century-old footage, the soldiers and the world they lived in are resurrected, no longer appearing as distant, faded historical figures, but rather men of flesh and blood - familiar, relatable, and human.

The transformation does not stop with visuals. The audio restoration adds another layer of realism. From the distant echoes of weapons and machinery to the presence of casual banter among the soldiers, the sound design draws the viewer into the horrifying realities of trench warfare. The painstaking effort to lip-read the silent footage and provide voice overs adds yet another level of nuance and detail. Combined with the voices of the war's veterans and an original score, the audio design greatly multiplies the documentary's emotional power.

Unlike many other war documentaries, They Shall Not Grow Old, does not rely on a singular story or a framed narrative. Rather it presents a collage of experiences, meticulously stitched together to represent the spectrum of soldier life during World War I. The narrative touches upon everything from the sense of adventure that led many young men to enlist, to the bleak, fraught conditions in the trenches, and the trauma both physical and psychological that followed them home.

Approaching the narration through varied perspectives and experiences ensures that the documentary does not oversimplify the complexity of war or dilute the courage, fear, camaraderie, and desolation these men experienced. It shows them not as mere facts and figures in a history textbook, but as multilayered individuals with their own aspirations, fears, and fates.

A surprising yet poignant element of the film is its lack of a formal adversarial viewpoint. There is no demonization of the “enemy.” Instead, Jackson allows for the humanity of all soldiers, regardless of their nationalities or allegiances, to shine forth. This results in a more sobering, universal commentary on the devastating impacts of war.

They Shall Not Grow Old is an extraordinary achievement in filmmaking. It provides an immersive insight into a history that is quickly fading from living memory while redefining the possibilities of what a documentary can achieve. This is not merely a series of moving images layered with narrations; it is history brought to life, an unforgettable journey through the wide-ranging experiences of soldiers from a pivotal time in human history.

By offering this freshly humanized view of World War I, Peter Jackson has succeeded in connecting the 21st-century audience with an all-too-often forgotten generation and a pivotal period of world history. It brings to the forefront the stark reality of war, the human lives that are affected, and the sacrifices made by the men whose voices echo through time. Hence, as the title suggests, these men, their experiences, and their sacrifices, will not grow old. This is indeed a fitting tribute to those who were part of one of the most profound conflicts in human history.