The Great Escaper

UK, 2023, 96 minutes, Colour.

Cast:  Michael Caine, Glenda Jackson, John Standing, Laura Marcus, Will Fletcher, Wolf Kahler, Danielle Vitalis, Victor Oshin, Elliot Norman.

Directed by Oliver Parker.

“Lest we forget.” A review as well as an indicator of so many of this film’s themes.

Michael Caine suggests that this will be his last film.  He made it as he was turning 89 and it is a solid film and performance if it is his last.  It is the last film for Glenda Jackson.  She made it as she was turning 86.  Both of them had won two Oscars, she two best actress, he two best supporting actor.  They had toplined stage, films, television for 60 years.

And, with these stars, and their characters living in aged care, this is a film about old age and ageing – lest we forget.  Caine is Bernard Jordan, Navy veteran, present at the D-Day landing.  Jackson is his wife Rene, and they met 70 years earlier during the war.  Both stars have some wonderful dramatic opportunities in this film, he devoted to his wife, deciding he wanted to attend the 70th anniversary of D-Day, 2014, she, unwell, yet full of verve and spirit, dry and whitty comments, letting him go.  And, the film gives a lot of attention to the aged care staff, supervisors, doctors, nurses, orderlies, their work as well as relationships.

The film is based on an actual story, dramatised in the media in 2014, Bernie tracked down in France at the D-Day celebrations, photos and stories in the media, his going alone to the celebrations, and his nickname “The Great Escaper”.

As might be guessed, this is in the best tradition of British filmmaking, taking us back to the past, gritty spirit during the war, its living on in its elderly.

And, with the D-Day theme, this film is very much Lest We Forget.  The first flashback to D-Day comes as something of a surprise, very much close-up, on the boat, preparations for the landing, planes flying over, bombardment.  And, throughout this film, there are continued flashbacks to D-Day in its detail, especially Bernie’s friendship with Douglas from Nottingham, killed in action.  We remember Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan and the most vivid dramatising of D-Day, the flashbacks here in that tradition.

But Rene also has flashbacks, to the war, a meeting with Bernie, and the beautiful theme of waking early in the morning and being some of the few people who watch the beauty of the Dawn.

A word of praise for veteran actor John Standing.  Here we have one of his best performances, an upper-class veteran on the ferry to France, encountering Bernie, offers of friendship, sharing experiences, sharing confidences, each with a sad secret about the dead of the war, sad condemnation of the bombing of civilians, and a visit to the war cemetery.

There are many wonderful moments in the film, one well worth commenting on, the two veterans, hosted by loud Americans, but encountering a small group of German soldiers who had been present to D-Day, going to talk with them, the sadness with one of them, mutual respect, shared sorrows, weeping, and all saluting one another.

While this is definitely a film for older audiences who have long memories, one hopes that it will appeal to those who do not share such long memories but are open to appreciate them.

By Fr Peter Malone MSC

The Great Escaper is currently showing at Palace Cinemas, Lido Hawthorn, Rivoli Camberwell and other select cinemas. 

Published: 22 March 2024