Descendants march into hell to feel what their ancestors died for.
On July 1st, 1916, the Newfoundland Regiment took part in a massive First World War offensive on the Somme, led by the British. At Beaumont Hamel the regiment was nearly wiped out, as only 110 of 780 soldiers survived the day. To commemorate its 100th anniversary, Brian McKenna’s documentary film tells the story of this epic tragedy. Using a technique that brings new meaning to reenactment, McKenna recruits descendants of soldiers who fought this battle, offering them a unique opportunity to relive the experience of their ancestors in trenches built specifically for the film.
Direction
McKenna weaponizes reenactment as intergenerational reckoning.
Sound
Silence between artillery bursts speaks louder than explosions.
Production
Trenches built from archival maps, exact to the meter.
Director
Brian McKenna
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
July 1st remains Newfoundland's Memorial Day, observed before Canada Day celebrations—a cultural wound that resisted Confederation assimilation.
The 10% survival rate made Beaumont Hamel the regiment's bloodiest day; British command ordered the advance despite visible German machine gun positions.
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