Tuesday 16 June 2020

Exhibition 'The Second World War in Film'

“Lock and load!” – Sands of Iwo Jima

“Round up the usual suspects” - Casablanca 

“Listen very carefully, I shall say this only once” – ‘Allo ‘Allo 

World famous quotes that are forever linked to the Second World War. Yet they do not come from a well-known general, but from an actor. Our collective memory is full of one-liners, melodies and images from feature films about the Second World War. The impact of all these films on our perception of the war is enormous and, as each generation commemorates the Second World War in its own way, each generation also makes its own films about the war. The Freedom Museum shines a light on these changing sentiments in the temporary exhibition The Second World War in Film.

A large advertising column fills the museum café. It is not a historical object but a prop from the set of the film Lyrebird from 2019. In the exhibition room itself you can see props and costumes from many more well-known and lesser-known films. From classics such as A Bridge Too Far and Black Book to more recent productions such as Inglourious Basterds, Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter and Dresden. Among the masterpieces are one of Tom Hanks’ costumes, a script by Sean Connery and a uniform worn by George Clooney.

These remarkable pieces are surrounded by the story of the development of films about the war. From soldier films to comedies, from exciting resistance thrillers to heartbreaking portraits of the Holocaust. As constant as the popularity of the "Second World War" theme is in feature films, the depiction of this part history is ever-changing. Time and again, our perception of history is given a new face on the silver screen.

This temporary exhibition brings the magic of the silver screen to the museum. Experience a fascinating  journey between fact and fiction in The Second World War in Film. On display from 8 June 2020 until 12 January 2021.

The exhibition is made possible thanks to financial support from Gelderland Herdenkt, Berg en Dal Herdenkt and the vfonds.

Photo 1: Ton van Roozendaal
Photo 2: Collectie P. Jalhay, foto Vrijheidsmuseum

Location: Freedom museum, Wylerbaan 4, 6561 KR Groesbeek
Date: 8 June 2020 until 12 January 2021
Information: drs. Rense Havinga, curator, via 024-3974404 or welkom@vrijheidsmuseum.nl
Facebook: /vrijheidsmuseumNL, Twitter: @never1story