Looking for WWII movies that depict civilian "life at home"

[RCMerchant]

Ken Burns: The War is excellent.

http://www.pbs.org/thewar/

I agree.

[Allhallowsday]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWrKMV07-5Y

[zelmo73]

Flags of our Fathers (2006) has parts of the film that depict life on the home front of World War II, mixed in with the frontline stuff. Not an entire movie of home life during the war, but I thought that Clint Eastwood captured the feel of how the war was affecting people at home rather well.

Also, The Pacific (2010) is an HBO TV miniseries not a movie, but it too depicts a split-version of life at home and life on the front like Flags of our Fathers (2006) does. But again it depicts it rather well, and it was the home front stuff that fascinated me.

On a side note and a bit off-topic, because you asked about World War II movies, All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) is set in World War I, but also does a fantastic job depicting what life was like at home away from the front and what happens when you put active duty soldiers on leave from the front in a civilian setting; they're like a fish out of water. I hope this helps!

[ulthar]

Thanks for the added suggestions.

All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)

zelmo, the first time I tried to read that book, it gave me nightmares.  The book is (in my opinion), horrifying.

I did eventually make it through.

Based on that emotional experience, I will wait a bit before introducing that one to my children.  It's an important story, but one that I believe should be taken in the context of a little more life's experience.

[Umaril Has Returned]

Flags of our Fathers (2006) has parts of the film that depict life on the home front of World War II, mixed in with the frontline stuff. Not an entire movie of home life during the war, but I thought that Clint Eastwood captured the feel of how the war was affecting people at home rather well.

Was this the one with Adam Beach as Ira Hayes? If so, that was a great movie because Beach really played Hayes to the hilt. I really felt bad for his character knowing what he went thru after the war. Adam beach is a great actor!

[skuts]

Look for a german produced film called The Bridge. A group of teenage friends in a small German town are drafted by the Reich and deployed to their old town to guard a strategic bridge. Life is a picnic until a US armored division shows up.

[The Burgomaster]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_86PDoqvoI

. . . and its sequel THE CLASS OF '44

[Umaril Has Returned]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_86PDoqvoI

. . . and its sequel THE CLASS OF '44

Oh yeah, the exploits of Oscie, Hermie, and Benjie, thre young American boys smack dab in the middle of the summer of '42 when the war is going on pretty strong.