Gallipoli: The Frontline Experience (DVD)

PLEASE NOTE: THIS PRODUCT CAN ONLY BE SHIPPED WITHIN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. ANY ORDERS WITH A SHIPPING ADDRESS OUTSIDE AUSTRALIA OR NEW ZEALAND WILL BE CANCELLED AND REFUNDED.

It all began as a demonstration of strength against the Ottoman Empire by Great Britain and her allies. It became one of the largest landing operations in history and one of the bloodiest and most controversial battles of World War I. The campaign affected Turkey, Australia and New Zealand profoundly. A new national consciousness began to rise on the shores of Gallipoli. For Australia and New Zealand, it became their first major trial on the world stagea baptism of fir. For the Turks, it was a crucial step on the path towards a new country and a new national identity.

To capture the spirit of the campaign and the experience of the soldiers, Gallipoli tells the story simultaneously from the perspective of all sides involved, and sets out to capture the human dimension within the general structure of the battle. The war itself is the only enemy in this film. The campaign is told through the diaries and letters of two British, three New Zealand, three Australian and 2 Turkish soldiers. The film portrays the historical importance of Gallipoli based on facts and from the perspectives of these soldiers who are representative of the thousands of soldiers from both sides. It is the story of ordinary men forced by history to do extraordinary things. The courage with which they faced hardship, and the sacrifices they made, are brought to life through their own words. It is their common experience and it is their story.

Gallipoli is a film by award-winning Turkish director, Tolga Örnek, narrated by Jeremy Irons and Sam Neill. Australian military historian Brad Manera, an expert on costumes and weapons, travelled to Turkey during the main shoot to check the historical accuracy of every detail in every scene.

Produced over six years and in seven different countries, Gallipoli uses newly uncovered diaries, letters and photographs from both sides; interviews with international experts; on-location landscape, underwater and aerial photography; 3D computer animations; and dramatic re-enactments of trenches and battles. More than seventy archives in the UK, Germany, France, Russia, Australia, Austria, New Zealand and Turkey were researched and more than sixteen international historians were consulted to make the film as historically rich and accurate as possible. It is not only the newest film on the subject, but also the most comprehensive.

ATOM has also produced a study guide for Gallipoli: The Frontline Experience. This study guide is available for download here.

Running time: 120 mins

Classification: PG