Into the Storm is a movie based on the life of Britain’s Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Brenden Gleeson) who led the country to victory in World War II. Often seen as a war monger, this man simply would not entertain the idea of surrendering – ever. He said Britain would fight on ‘til the end.
Winston Churchill in Private and Public
Winston Churchill is described as the right man at the right time and the right place. His duties of PM started with the beginning of the war and when it was over, he was voted out. The people saw him as the man who led them to peace, and now that peace was restored they wanted a different government.
This defeat was hard on Churchill. He could not understand why the people he worked so hard for suddenly turned on him. What he realized is that he was meant to be there solely to lead them through the war.
The movie switches back and forth between his vacation in France after the war while awaiting the election results, and the years of World War II. Although they were thought of as a close couple, his wife (Janet McTeer) spent little time together during the war years. His complete preoccupation with the war engulfed his entire being.
Winston Churchill is known for so many great speeches and many are included in the film. This movie is not supposed to be a war film. It is a look at the man, Winston Churchill, and his relationship with his wife. There are very few war scenes. Instead the focus is on Churchill’s determination to do anything and everything to win the war.
Along with Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin, Churchill attended summit conferences to plan the allied strategy. His admiration for Roosevelt and suspicion of Stalin come through in the movie.
Churchill’s friendship with King George VI is also explored. While different personalities, the two men admired each other and in the end became good friends.
Bonus Feature on the DVD
The bonus feature is titled “The Making of Into the Storm,” however it is more look at the two characters, Winston Churchill and Clementine Churchill and how the two actors who played these iconic characters learned about their alter egos.
While Churchill was a stern Prime Minister, his personal life was pretty close to his public persona. He was just as much a curmudgeon in his private life as he appeared in public. His only focus during his time as Prime Minister was simply winning the war and saving the monarchy and democracy. He was fierce in making the world know that Britain would not be defeated.
This film is a fascinating look at the man who was instrumental in leading Europe to victory in World War II.
- Studio: HBO Home Video
- Run Time: 100 minutes
