Damn the War

An army pilot is visiting the home of another army pilot in a neighbouring country and falls in love with his sister, and just then war breaks out. Friendship and uniform are set against each other at once, and the two men find themselves on opposing sides. The film does not present war as a field of heroism and curses it openly in its very name. It was made in the early years of the silent period and staged its flying scenes with real aircraft. The account asks how far personal bonds can hold up against a war. Hand colouring was used for its colour. The production was finished just before the war began, which sets the film apart today. Alfred Machin’s fifty minute Belgian film was completed in 1914.