The announcement has been made that Peter Jackson will be making a documentary about the First World War, which makes sense because 2018 will see the centenary of its conclusion. Some people will be excited because Jackson was the director of not just The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies but also a number of other well-known movies as well, meaning that he brings considerable expertise and experience to this latest project. However, it should be noted that some information has been released about what interested individuals can expect from the documentary, which sounds rather interesting.
For example, it has been revealed that the documentary will be made with the help of the United Kingdom’s 14-18 Now, which is an arts programme created for the purpose of remembering the centenary of the First World War. As a result, it will have some footage that has never been seen on previous occasions, which will be restored using modern techniques for the best results. Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the documentary will be paired with another documentary about how it was made, which might interest those who are curious about the production process for such projects. Content-wise, not much has been revealed about the documentary, but Jackson has stated that he wants to show the viewers what the experience of the First World War was like, which suggests that it will be focusing on the people who lived through the conflict to a significant extent as opposed to larger-scale events.
Why Is Remembering the First World War So Important?
Some people might be wondering why it is so important to remember the First World War. After all, it was fought from 1914 to 1918, meaning that it has been a long, long time since it took place. However, it is important to note that the First World War was in a real sense, the event that laid the foundations of the modern world.
For example, the First World War laid low not one, not two, not three, but four full-fledged empires, which resulted in thorough transformations in some places and the rise of new nations in others. Furthermore, the conflict robbed the people of the optimism that had preceded it, which prompted people to seek out new answers for a new age. Some people sought them in the form of internationalism, as shown by the setting up of the predecessor to the United Nations. In contrast, other people fell back on militarism, their newfound cynicism making it impossible for them to continue upholding their previous beliefs. As a result, it can be said that the First World War led to the Second, which further hammered the nations of the Earth into a recognizable shape for us.
Summed up, understanding the First World War is critical for understanding the modern world. However, it should also be remembered that the history of that particular conflict is something that we can learn from. History does not repeat itself, but it does have rather unfortunate tendencies of rhyming, meaning that it is best to learn from the mistakes of our predecessors lest we are forced to learn from our own.
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