The Real Heroes of Telemark (2003) (TV)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Martin Pailthorpe

Writer:

Martin Pailthorpe (writer)

Release Date:

2003 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary | History | War

Plot Keywords:

Norway | Mountain Warfare | WWII

Cast

Knut Haugland	...	Himself
Ray Mears	...	Himself
Jens A. Poulsson	...	Himself
Joachim Rønneberg	...	Himself

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:E

Filming Locations:

Norway

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Second World War Documentary with a Difference

Having had an interest in the Heroes of Telemark since I saw the film as a young boy and being a bit of an outdoor guy I naturally wanted to see this. It was excellent. Ray Mears visited the actual drop zones and hideouts and employed the same survival techniques that they used. Most people's concept of the sabotaging of the Nazi atomic programme is based on Kirk Douglas's film (which, as I've said in my review on it, is excellent). That film certainly stays fairly close to the historical facts but Kirk Douglas and Richard Harris play amalgams of several different people. It was very interesting to see the interviews with the actual men who carried out the raid. In the first programme Ray Mears even went so far as to give a scientific talk on heavy water, illustrating it by dropping two heavy water ice cubes into a glass of water. Both ice cubes sank to the bottom. There was also an interview with the Norwegian skier who doubled for Roy Dotrice in the scene where he is pursuing Kirk Douglas in the film. It was a very full documentary, even including footage of the wreck of the ferry on the bottom of the lake. Well done Mr Mears and I hope this documentary is released on DVD.