It Happened Here (1966)

Highly Overrated But Still Good

A Masterpiece!

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

I never knew this movie existed and I am still somewhat shocked after just watching this film at the incredible job that was done by a couple of independent film-makers.If someone had told me prior to seeing this movie that a couple of teenagers had produced an amazing movie based on the occupation of England by the Nazis in World War II, I would have said impossible.The movie lacks a little in quality because it was shot in 16mm and in some situations lacks the necessary lighting needed to bring off certain scenes, however, as the Summary above states, you can choose only ONE of the three criteria to work with. The producers did not have budget, or top quality equipment, or big name actors to work with, but they DID have time and they used it to create what can only be called a masterpiece.I have never lived in a country under occupation and I hope that I never will, however, I can understand the need for people to get on with their lives and even the necessity to actually collaborate with an enemy simply to survive.As it was put to our main actress in this movie, "You can nurse for us or you can stay home and nurse your empty stomach." She had no choice even though she wanted no political affiliation. This is the type of movie that makes you wonder and puts you in the position of saying, "What would I do in that case?" Watch this if you get the chance because it falls into the category that says, "Those who refuse to study history are doomed to repeat it."

I don't hand out 1's and 10's often, and while the production on this film is quite low, with the sound quality for dialogue being the absolute worst, this film is totally compelling and you will be grateful you gave it a chance.The movie is shot as a pseudo documentary, following the life of Pauline, a strangely attractive nurse who must relocate to London in a world where Nazi Germany has more than a foothold in England; Soldiers occupy the nation and many British citizens have become their collaborators. You should read the interesting history behind the making of this film which took something like 6 years to complete, if you can believe it. But wait until after you watch the movie, of course. I'm glad I didn't know much about it before I began watching. Fans of science fiction, dystopian fiction, and Orwell will eat this up and want more.This is a war film like few others in that you don't see much of the war itself, by that I mean the front lines. You see the daily life of citizens in a country where all their normal daily routines have been stamped out and they are recast in the roles of pseudo-Nazis whether they like it or not. What are you waiting for?

What's most amazing about this film is that it was made by teenagers and looks good even for being shot in 16mm. Seeing Nazis goose-stepping in front of various UK landmarks and is pretty upsetting and totally convincing. The narrative loses a lot of steam after an hour (I think this film was expanded from a short) but the faked newsreel shown in a cinema halfway through the movie is totally flawless in its imitation of German propaganda films.

This film was shown recently as part of the Channel 4 War Weekend. I found it to be well made, and contained some very powerful images, of the German forces in occupation.My only reservation is that I found it difficult to track the passage of time within the film.The film deals with a woman, who is relocated to London, following Partisan activity at her home village. She becomes a Collaborator, not particularly from choice, but from circumstance. She is faced with a simple choice: work for the state, or don't eat. The film presents the Partisans as terrorists, whose methods differ little from the Nazis, although their objectives are purer. The film certainly made me think more about the life of the civilian in occupied territory. You could become a partisan, and act as a terrorist, or work for the forces of occupation, either directly, or indirectly. Or you could starve.Well, what would you do?