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The Not Dead (2007)

“There are days when I think I’m just scum. Days when I can’t face the world.”

Rob is 23 years old and recently served with British forces in Iraq. He saw and did things that have profoundly affected him. He has nightmares and flashbacks, he drinks heavily to try and forget what he did in Basra. Rob suffers from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). So does 78 year old Cliff who fought in the British army in Malaya in 1951. Even though it was 50 years ago, every night he relives in his mind the incident when his comrades were slaughtered. Eddie (pictured) served with UN peacekeeping forces in Bosnia and has made multiple suicide attempts.

The Not Dead tells the stories of these three men. Through intimate interviews and archive material, we learn how some people have their minds altered for ever by war. Each man tells part of his story through war poetry written by Simon Armitage and based on their experiences. Moving and profound, the film also finds rare moments of humour.

A Century Films production for Channel 4

1 x 90 minutes

PoetrySimon ArmitagePhotographyGraham SmithSoundIan MaclaganComposerDuncan GlassonAssistant producerJeanette BellProducerElodie GornallExecutive ProducerKatie BailiffEditorStuart BriggsDirectorBrian Hill

Awards/Reviews

"bleak, beautiful, blistering...one of the best films you will see all year"The Guardian

"Deft and moving...shaming and inspiring"The Independent

"Intensely moving...this harrowing film takes you inside the minds of people who have recovered from war - and it is a terrible place to be"The Times

"An incredibly moving film"Timeout


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