4 Tage im Mai

Prussia 1945; 8 million refugees, 5 million raped, 3 million dead and countless personal tragedies. One of the most savage and tragic events of human history. 4 days in May records just one of the fragments that made up this tragedy.

A beach somewhere on the Baltic. A 12 year old boy caught up in the madness of war wants to fight alongside the teenage soldiers who face the relentless Russian advance. And so he neglects to lead the local orphans to the rescue boat and they are all captured by the Soviets.

This production is so magnificently directed, skillfully scripted and beautifully filmed that I should not reveal any more of the story. You simply have to see it. It will grab you from the very first seconds and keep you entirely transfixed until the final emotionally draining frame. It still drew tears even at the third viewing.

And 4 days in May is still highly relevant today. It displays the foundation logic of current German neutrality. War appears so tragic, so insane and so ultimately futile that no sensible person would ever participate in it. But most of all the film shows that there is no good or bad side in war. There are only a few individuals who become deranged through the power they enjoy because of it. Our sympathies are encouraged to all ordinary people involved - whether they are German or Russian, civilian or soldier, young or old. Every school child and young person should be shown this film without delay.