The Great Escaper

Sometimes, I happen to like the production story of a film more than the film itself, and that was the case with “The Great Escaper,” released in 2023. The film portrays an 89-year-old Second World War veteran’s escape from a care home in the UK to attend the 70th-anniversary commemorations of D-Day in France. Co-produced by the United Kingdom, France, and Sweden, the movie is directed by Oliver Parker and written by William Ivory. It drew inspiration from the real-life incident of Second World War Veteran Bernard Jordan, whose escapade from his East Sussex care home made headlines in 2014.

When Pathé and Ecosse Films approached screenwriter William Ivory with the assignment, Ivory wasn’t initially sold. Despite recalling Bernard Jordan’s story from the headlines, he felt there was a promising premise but remained uncertain if it could translate into a full-fledged film. However, his perspective shifted when he began to see another angle of the story, thanks to his parents’ wartime experience.

Screenwriter Ivory’s father served in Bomber Command during the Second World War, while his mother would wait for him at home. In one of the interviews, Ivory stated, “My mother said he would come home sometimes, and if he ever had eczema around his nostrils, she knew he’d had the oxygen mask on. So I started thinking about my mum and the idea of going to war while you stay at home. And then I put that with the Glenda Jackson character and thought, ‘oh hang on, we have got a film here’, because it’s as much about her as it is about him.” In addition to this, his uncle fought in the Second World War too, but unlike his father, his uncle lost his life during the war. All these experiences gave screenwriter Ivory a chance to form a personal connection, and I can see how this personal connection enriches the story in more than one way.

Overall, I find it a bit predictable yet still a moving and uplifting movie. I admired how the writer sidestepped excessive sentimentality while ensuring it remained emotionally resonant. Ultimately, the film delves into the theme of aging as much as it does into the war, capturing these nuances through subtle moments. While this particular movie isn’t exactly my taste, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the writer, a three-time BAFTA nominee, truly knows his craft. That’s why I’m inclined to explore his 2010 film, “Made in Dagenham,” especially given its accolade of the British Independent Film Award for Best Screenplay.

Lastly, in one of his interviews, screenwriter Ivory mentioned that he writes exactly seven pages every day, no more and no less. Writing seven pages for a script in a day is quite achievable, especially when you’re in the zone. But doing it consistently every single day? That definitely takes a lot of discipline. He’s definitely earned my respect for that level of commitment, no doubt about it.

Here is the script if you are interested. And it’s not some transcript or blurry photocopy but the actual script. https://efm.patheinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/The-Great-Escaper-Script-by-Oliver-Parker.pdf