Regeneration [Behind the Lines] **** (1997, Jonathan Pryce, James Wilby, Jonny Lee Miller, Stuart Bunce, Tanya Allen, David Hayman, Dougray Scott, John Neville) Classic Movie Review 7883

Jonathan Pryce gives a career-best performance as the psychiatrist who tries to rehabilitate shell-shocked World War One veterans, including war poet Siegfried Sassoon (James Wilby).

Director Gillies MacKinnon’s 1997 British-Canadian co-production Regeneration [Behind the Lines] stars Jonathan Pryce, who gives a career-best performance as Dr William H R Rivers, the kindly doctor psychiatrist who tries to rehabilitate appallingly shell-shocked World War One veterans, suffering from extreme post traumatic stress disorder. These British Army officers suffering from various traumas most notably include the English war poet writer and soldier Siegfried Sassoon (James Wilby).

The graphic images of warfare make an indelible impression. But it is the heartbreaking human story of the contempt of the high-ups for the common man that really counts. The soldiers were simply believed to be malingering or could be treated by barbaric aversion methods.

With distinguished performances from its notable cast, this wonderful British film, with a fine, literate and intelligent screenplay by Allan Scott based on Pat Barker’s novel, is one to be proud of and could move you to tears.

Pat Barker’s 1991 novel is a fictionalised account of the World War One wartime period in the life of English war poet writer and soldier Siegfried Sassoon, and the film also stars James Wilby as the troubled young 2nd Lt Sassoon. Captain Rivers was responsible for Sassoon’s treatment in Craiglockhart War Hospital and became a surrogate father to him.

Also in the cast are James Wilby as 2nd Lt. Siegfried Sassoon, Jonny Lee Miller as 2nd Lt. Billy Prior, Stuart Bunce as 2nd Lt. Wilfred Owen, Tanya Allen as Sarah, David Hayman as Maj. Bryce, Dougray Scott as Capt. Robert Graves. John Neville as Dr Yealland, Paul Young, Alastair Galbraith, Eileen Nicholas, Julian Fellowes, David Robb, Kevin McKidd, Rupert Procter, Angela Bradley, Finlay McLean, Jeremy Child, Jenny Ryan, Andrew Woodall, Russell Barr, Kate Donnelly, Lee Brown, Joel Strachan, Bob Docherty and James McAvoy.

Regeneration [Behind the Lines] is directed by Gillies MacKinnon, runs 114 minutes or 96 minutes, is made by British Broadcasting Corporation, Famous Players, Norstar Entertainment, Rafford, Viacom Canada, and Téléfilm Canada, is released by Artificial Eye and Alliance, is written by Allan Scott, based on Pat Barker’s novel, is shot by Glen McPherson, is produced by Mark Shivas, Allan Scott and Peter R Simpson, is scored by Mychael Danna, and is set designed by Andy Harris.

Regeneration uses Territorial Army soldiers as extras, including those from 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, Hotspur Street, Glasgow.

It was released in the US as Behind the Lines, cut and running just 96 minutes.

The story is retold in Benediction (2021), written and directed by Terence Davies, and starring Jack Lowden and Peter Capaldi as the war poet Siegfried Sassoon.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7883

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