The Retreat of the Hollywood War Movie

The recent celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe will have spurred many cinephiles like me to revisit some classic depictions of the Second World War. Saving Private Ryan, Ivan’s Childhood, The Dam Busters or Das Boot—besides the primitive thrill of battle, these movies (and many others no less accomplished) give us the satisfying sense of understanding some aspect of the conflict, of gaining insight into the participants’ experience.