Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7832 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-04-14
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 100 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review

The date was April 17th 1945 and the battle for Berlin raged through northern Germany. But a British ambulance unit was diverted from the frontline to handle an unfolding medical crisis.

The liberation of Belsen did not bring an end to the death toll. Instead, it was the start of a humanitarian catastrophe. 40,000 prisoners were trapped in a man-made camp of indescribable squalor; deprived of food, clothing and basic medical care. In the space of one month an international team of doctors and nurses battled against logistical hurdles and administrative red tape to save thousands of lives and build the largest hospital in Europe.

This powerful medical drama starring Iain Glen, Jemma Redgrave, Nigel Lindsay, Tobias Menzies and Corin Redgrave, takes us behind-the-scenes of one of the most awesome emergency rescue operations in history.

Synopsis
Channel Four's feature length drama THE RELIEF OF BELSEN, uses eye witness accounts to piece together the unfolding events following the liberation of the concentration camp by British troops in April 1945. The extraordinary story is told through dramatisation, testimony and news footage; forming a very human account of such an inhuman horror.

When an ambulance crew are sent to what they believe is a prisoner of war camp to assist with a medical emergency, the group are completely unprepared for the devastation they find. As a outbreak of Typhus spreads through Belsen, Lt Col James Johnston (Iain Glen) and his men struggle to cope with the immense task before them.

Customer Reviews

Lest We Forget
This inspiring and harrowing portrayal of Belsen is a must see. Based on eyewitness accounts, letters and diaries written by those who were there this drama makes compulsive viewing.

Quite simply, near the end of the war a small medical team was diverted to a little known camp, called Belsen. All they knew was that there was a medical emergency there, and that their help was needed. Little did they know what they were in for. What they saw when they arrived was squalor, death, disease, infestation and starvation. Amongst in-fighting wthin the group, lack of supplies and masses of red tape, this medical team fought to save lives. Despair and anguish sets in as the death rate increases, with no help from the German guards and medical staff.

What could have been just a film of death and bleakness has been intelligently made, and what we have is a drama of humanitarian aid and selfless effort of a small group of doctors and nurses. Sheer willpower and British stiff upper-lip reserve manage to eventually turn the camp around, and save lives. The BBC reporter at last at the scene is given permisson to report on what has happened at this now infamous camp. You will end up with tears in your eyes watching this, and it will haunt you for days after.

What we have is true heroism from a small medical team trying to save lives whilst war still rages around them. A must see film for anyone who loves a tale of true life courage.

Fantastic uk made documentory style film
What great film shot mainly in Dorset by a uk based film company. Great representation of what life was like with original footage as well as a storyline to captivate the audience, originally shown on CH4 in 2007. Well worth a look.The Relief Of Belsen [2007]

Disapointing
Having recently visited the prisoner of war camps in poland i was very keen to watch this film as previous reveiws were quite complimentarary. I have started to collect dvd films detailing the second world war and the treatment of the jewish community etc.
I was very disapointed with this film, the subject matter really doesnt need any introduction yet i found in some parts that the portrayal was quite jokey by some of the characters which i found to be irritating and incensitive.
The original footage and the typed information which flashed upon the screen were the only things to keep you on your toes and interested from an historical point of view.

If you are looking for a more concise and informative dvd then i would recommend BBC`s documentary series titled Auschwitz