Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Sanjeev Bhaskar | ... | Sgt. Bakshi | |
Kenneth Branagh | ... | Col. Evans | |
Julian Glover | ... | Gen. Willis | |
Paul McGann | ... | Capt. Greville | |
Samuel West | ... | Lt. Davis | |
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Clare Burt | ... | Sister |
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Malcolm Ridley | ... | Lt. Frewer |
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Wayne Cater | ... | Cpl. Wright |
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Patrick Cash | ... | British Gunner |
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Richard Christopher | ... | Sgt. Allen |
Stephan Erdman | ... | Gunner 1 | |
Marshall Griffin | ... | Adjutant | |
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Nayesh Radia | ... | Pvt. Velu |
Robin Sebastian | ... | Capt. Oliver | |
Matthew Wolf | ... | Lieutenant Reichmann |
In the trenches of the Western Front in 1915, a British army chaplain is forced to question his faith as he witnesses hundreds of Hindu soldiers risking their lives daily for the Empire.
Incoherent, meaningless, historically inaccurate and ultimately completely pointless. What was it trying to say or achieve? What was it about? Why was such a stellar cast wasted on this? Personally, I have no idea.
And for the record: regiments were either British or Indian (with British officers), not mixed; Indian sergeants were known as havildars, never as sergeants; British soldiers do not and did not wear beards; and Indian regiments were officered by British officers of the Indian Army, not officers who didn't understand their men and regarded them as 'savages', assisted by Indian native officers, not one of whom was in sight. Much of this was a blatant politically correct attempt to show how appallingly treated the Indians were. Many Indians, incidentally, were decorated for bravery, including with the Victoria Cross, so the idea that an act of gallantry by Indian troops would be ignored is complete fabrication.
The Indian troops who fought in the Great War certainly deserve a film tribute, but they deserve better than this.