"Footnotes from the Fields" provides listeners with a fresh context to consider the painful remnants of World War I. Radio Netherlands Producer, Marijke van der Meer takes listeners on a voyage to WWI's western front. Van der Meer follows a group of Dutch and American students who tour the battlefield with their professor. Listeners will hear students' reactions to their surroundings mixed with the explanatory sounds of the professor's tour and of museum guides. Van der Meer's slow narration provides greater historical context and additional layers of information.
With the popularity of the Tom Brokaw's "The Greatest Generation" dispatches the experiences of WWII are well documented.
WWI is practically a forgotten war here in the United States.
This documentary helps put the sacrifices that the common soldiers of all sides made in WWI.
The minimal role that the US played in the total conflict has also been enlightening. As an American I have been taught that participation was more protracted and intensive then it really was.
As the US becomes more entangled in the Iraq conflict I think this radio piece would be welcomed by anyone who has served in the military and to those who have family serving in harms way.
The physical conditions of the battle are well explored and I could vividly imagine what it might have been like in 1918.
The visit to the cemetery was particularly moving and most relevant when a young American student declares that "it only shows that in war everybody looses".
Comments for RN Documentary: Footnotes from the Fields
This piece belongs to the series "RN Documentaries"
Produced by Marijke van der Meer
Other pieces by Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Rating Summary
2 comments
Kerry Seed
Posted on November 08, 2004 at 07:27 PM | Permalink
Review of RN Documentary: Footnotes from the Fields
"Footnotes from the Fields" provides listeners with a fresh context to consider the painful remnants of World War I. Radio Netherlands Producer, Marijke van der Meer takes listeners on a voyage to WWI's western front. Van der Meer follows a group of Dutch and American students who tour the battlefield with their professor. Listeners will hear students' reactions to their surroundings mixed with the explanatory sounds of the professor's tour and of museum guides. Van der Meer's slow narration provides greater historical context and additional layers of information.
Ray Jacques
Posted on October 26, 2004 at 07:32 AM | Permalink
Review of Footnotes from the Fields
With the popularity of the Tom Brokaw's "The Greatest Generation" dispatches the experiences of WWII are well documented.
WWI is practically a forgotten war here in the United States.
This documentary helps put the sacrifices that the common soldiers of all sides made in WWI.
The minimal role that the US played in the total conflict has also been enlightening. As an American I have been taught that participation was more protracted and intensive then it really was.
As the US becomes more entangled in the Iraq conflict I think this radio piece would be welcomed by anyone who has served in the military and to those who have family serving in harms way.
The physical conditions of the battle are well explored and I could vividly imagine what it might have been like in 1918.
The visit to the cemetery was particularly moving and most relevant when a young American student declares that "it only shows that in war everybody looses".