The Heart of The Matter: Injecting Humanity Into History

History has always had a place amongst our various forms of storytelling. Back to the days of cave paintings, forward to the hieroglyphs of Egypt and the earliest days of cinematography, our history as a species has always had a part to play in the kinds of stories we tell. When it comes to historical films, many center around various wars and other such great hardships we have faced as a people. To that end, I would say the time periods who garner a major portion of our creative attentions would have to be between 1910 and 1960, with a heavy focus on the two World Wars. There are a vast array of films, each focusing on a different perspective and retelling of those years and what it meant to survive. What sacrifices were made as well as the horror stories we only discovered the true depths of in the years following the wars, have grown into some of the greatest works of cinema.

In a sea of cinematic offerings, how does one tell a compelling story that not only honors the very real people who lived through those turbulent times, but also breaks the mold enough in some way to stick with audiences long after the credits have rolled? With 1917, we saw incredible feats of technological advancement with the dedicated and intricate planning, rehearsal and the visually stunning results of Director of Photography, Roger Deakins clearly on display. Dunkirk, directed under the watchful eye of Christopher Nolan, who also crafted the gorgeous screenplay, had audiences holding their breaths as well. But I would say the most important part of films such as 1917, Imitation Game, and even older films such as The Bridge Over The River Kwai, would have to be the injection of humanity all of these films share. As fascinating as the history of the events retold in these films may be, without heart, without establishing a connection to these heroes from our past, these films would not stand the test of time. Without putting in the effort to showcase both the fragility and strength of humans as a species, we wouldn’t be left with the same impact as these films and many others have had on audiences.

With the release of Operation Mincemeat on Netflix earlier this month, we witness the same intricate dance the previously mentioned films were faced with. A film that seeks to tell a story still not widely known by most audiences even nearly eighty years later, this is the second cinematic attempt at retelling this particular spy mission. The first film, The Man Who Never Was, which was based upon the book of the same title, was released in 1956, some three years after the book was published in 1953.

That being said, I believe that this adaptation was a more successful attempt at striking the balance between giving audiences the thrill and sense of what was at stake back in 1943, while also making sure we were given characters to root for. Colin Firth, who stars as Ewen Montagu, is tasked with running the operation alongside Charles Cholmondeley ( Matthew Macfadyen). The two set out to put into motion a plan that hoped to see a diversion of Axis forces by purposely planting falsified documents suggesting an impending invasion of Greece by incoming Allied forces. The catch? These documents were to be planted on a dead body the team would have to not only obtain, but would see them work together to create an entire backstory, a full and colorful life, for their completely fictionalized Captain William Martin.

The film takes us along on the journey as the pair encounter every hurdle imaginable along the way, both professionally and personally. And as fantastical as the operation itself is, the true heart of the film can be found in the journey of the team, particularly Montagu and Cholmoneley, as they are tasked with facing their own moral compasses. Much like in Imitation Game (2014), we see these characters forced to face unimaginable choices, putting their own lives at risk as we see the strain the job takes upon both them and their families. We see the effect the long years of two World Wars has, and what incredible feats can be accomplished when one simply refuses to give up. This film is not merely a feast for the eyes, nor a simple war film. It strikes the balance between telling a grand story on an even grander scale, and honing in on all the parts of life that make us who we are. The way such high stakes under unimaginable circumstances can test any relationship, and what it means to give your life for your country. To sacrifice for what you believe in.

Operation Mincemeat is currently streaming on Netflix and is absolutely worth a viewing, if not multiple viewings, in order to truly appreciate the amount of detail packed into this two hour film. Though there were some aspects that ended up muddied, in the end this is a film brought heart to yet another set of people who changed this world for the better, in a time where our very futures depended upon their courage, dedication and commitment to deception.