Winston Churchill, one of the most influential figures of the 20th century, is depicted in a new four-part Netflix documentary series titled “Churchill at War.” The show, which was released this Wednesday, Dec. 4, delves deep into Churchill’s life and career during World War II and was produced by filmmakers Ron Howard and Brian Glazer. The series also features interviews with former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and former U.S. President George W. Bush.
Churchill’s powerful and sometimes complicated legacy has been the subject of numerous books, movies and TV shows for more than half a century, including most recently in Netflix’s “The Crown” and in 2017’s “Darkest Hour,” in which he was portrayed by actors John Lithgow and Gary Oldman, respectively. Nearly all forms of media involving Churchill focus primarily on his iconic leadership as two-time prime minister of the United Kingdom and his major achievements during one of the darkest periods in human history.
This documentary series is unique, however, in that it features rare, authentic, restored and colorized archival footage shot during World War II and utilizes voice enhancement technology to present many of the millions of words Churchill wrote and delivered out loud for the very first time.
Like many previous Churchill-focused works, “Churchill at War” spotlights the late statesman’s policies and achievements that led to Great Britain overthrowing the Axis powers during World War II. Churchill’s iconic leadership during the war was primarily characterized by his disavowal of the Nazi and Fascist ideology that plagued various parts of Europe, and which left millions of people—Jews, Slavs, Roma, Jehovah’s, homosexuals and people with disabilities—brutally and senselessly murdered.
The show opens with Churchill coming to power in May of 1940, when Britain is on the brink of a full-scale invasion by Nazi Germany and when spirits in British society were at an all-time low. During his formative years, we learn that Churchill, who had mostly steered clear of politics, had spent much of his time trying to warn the public about the dangers that Adolf Hitler posed to society, but had proved to be unsuccessful.
But Churchill’s unwavering refusal to surrender to the Axis alliance and the rare human connection he shared with the people of Britain is showcased in this documentary by the deliverance of his powerful speeches to the House of Commons, his visits to London neighborhoods destroyed by the Blitz and the logistical actions he took during the six-year conflict. This includes his decision to evacuate over 330,000 Allied soldiers from German advancing forces in the north of France—which later became the inspiration for Christopher Nolan’s 2017 Academy Award-winning film “Dunkirk”—helping to set the stage for Britain’s victory and boost morale among the general public.
Indeed, Churchill’s life and career were marked by significant times and unprecedented circumstances that most definitely shaped both his character and the moral beliefs he held onto for much of his life. “Churchill at War” presents his authority and legacy as almost unmatched to any other leader in history, but at the same time successfully encapsulates Churchill as someone of high regard and great influence on the viewers at home.
Rating: 4.5/5