Regeneration
1997
Jonathan Pryce stars as Dr. William Rivers, an army psychologist who treats mentally disturbed patients so that they can return to the front, in this adaptation of Pat Barker's moving World War I novel. Dr. Rivers begins to doubt the morality of his occupation when he begins treating a bizarre trio of patients: the decorated .. Read more
| Starring | Jonathan Pryce, James Wilby, Jonny Lee Miller, Stuart Bunce |
|---|---|
| Director | Gillies Mackinnon |
| Genres | Drama |
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Regeneration
Jonathan Pryce stars as Dr. William Rivers, an army psychologist who treats mentally disturbed patients so that they can return to the front, in this adaptation of Pat Barker's moving World War I novel. Dr. Rivers begins to doubt the morality of his occupation when he begins treating a bizarre trio of patients: the decorated hero and poet Siegfried Sassoon, the budding poet Wilfred Owen, and Billy Prior, a young soldier who has been struck mute by the horror he has seen. Dr. Rivers' conflict begins when Sassoon publicly refuses to fight, writing a declaration of his objections that is read aloud before Parliament, which orders him to undergo psychiatric evaluation. Deeply affected by the strength of Sassoon's convictions, Dr. Rivers begins to see the true horrors of the war and cultivates a relationship with the mute Billy, determined to cure at least one of the war's many casualties.
| Starring | Jonathan Pryce, James Wilby, Jonny Lee Miller, Stuart Bunce, Tanya Allen |
|---|---|
| Director | Gillies Mackinnon |
| Studio | ARTIFICIAL EYE |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 49 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: not available Production year: 1997 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (2)
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Four shell-shocked men help each other come to terms with their shared horrific First World War experiences in this compelling, if sometimes highly romanticised, adaptation of the first book in Pat Barker's trilogy — the third, The Ghost Road, won the Booker Prize. Showing how they cope in a military psychiatric hospital — Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen (James Wilby and Stuart Bunce) wrote their most famous poetry in such institutions to exorcise their feelings — Gillies MacKinnon's film makes for a grim, intelligent drama that's suffused with haunting and harrowing images, none more so than the opening aerial shot of no man's land strewn with the casualties of war.
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Excellently acted, sensitively directed drama of the impact of war; but there is a stilted quality to the script that keeps it earthbound.
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Most helpful member's review
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6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
An impressive film, it captures the essence (albeit not the detail) of the Pat Barker Regeneration trilogy. Partly true story (in that several characters were real people), it portrays authentically the feel of a Great War home for shell shock victims, and features the poets Wilfred Owen and the naively idealistic Siegfried Sassoon. Doctor Rivers is superbly played, torn between his military duty to return men to the front and his humane desire to cure and help his patients as best he can. The electrocution scene is cringingly unpleasant. Possibly one of the best films about the First War, but don't expect too much "war action" as most of the film is set in the Scottish Hospital of Craiglockhart, now, I believe, part of Edinburgh University.
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Most recent members' review
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6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
An impressive film, it captures the essence (albeit not the detail) of the Pat Barker Regeneration trilogy. Partly true story (in that several characters were real people), it portrays authentically the feel of a Great War home for shell shock victims, and features the poets Wilfred Owen and the naively idealistic Siegfried Sassoon. Doctor Rivers is superbly played, torn between his military duty to return men to the front and his humane desire to cure and help his patients as best he can. The electrocution scene is cringingly unpleasant. Possibly one of the best films about the First War, but don't expect too much "war action" as most of the film is set in the Scottish Hospital of Craiglockhart, now, I believe, part of Edinburgh University.
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Regeneration
Jonathan Pryce stars as Dr. William Rivers, an army psychologist who treats mentally disturbed patients so that they can return to the front, in this adaptation of Pat Barker's moving World War I novel. Dr. Rivers begins to doubt the morality of his occupation when he begins treating a bizarre trio ...
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