Absolutely!
The movie is a pretty close adaptation of the book; the production values are good, and the story and its message are just as valid today as when this was originally aired. In fact, I remember watching this as a teenager myself, and to a certain extent in enhanced my interest in history.
I teach a 20th century highschool history course (open level) and I have been using a variety of movies to touch on a variety of issues. One of the things we have talked about is propaganda, and the necessity to demonize your enemy; this movie portrays the young Germans as what they were - ordinary young men who were put into extraordinary circumstances due to the machinations of politicians. Having visited a number of World War I cemeteries - Canadian / Commonwealth, French, Belgian, and the German cemetery at Langemarck, I feel incredibly sad that so many lost their lives - a tremendous waste of human potential, and for what.
I think this movie should be shown in school, and its message discussed by students so that their service and sacrifice will not be forgotten, and hopefully never repeated
Dave MacLeod
Be proud of who you are - be proud of what you do
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