The Wipers Times

In a world wherein we are all too often confronted with the tragic waste that is warfare, this heart-rending and thought-provoking treatment of our world's first war stands tall amidst a cohort of war films that glorify war while trivializing the loss it represents. An entire generation of Englishman were lain down in the mud of the European theater, and while many poets, writers and historians have made much of the tragedy of this affair, few have the courage to satirize it. As only the men who witnessed its absurdity could tell us, this is the relation of Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, two men among many who were forced to endure a what was at times a senseless conflict. Their only hope for sanity in an insane situation was to cling to that which humanizes us all; our sense of humor.

If you have ever considered the pointless nature of large-scale conflict, the tragedy of war itself, or the despair of the man as he returns home from the front to a people who do not grasp the enormity of what he has faced, then you must see this film.

Trigger alert: Contains dry British humor and (not surprisingly) Monty Python-esque skits.

World War I: key word: WAR. Of course this movie isn't a laugh a minute. But wait... it kind of IS a laugh a minute. Dry, sardonic laughs in communion with trench Tommies pulling themselves out of the mud with humor, eye-rollers to bad limericks, satisfied guffaws to the desk brass being given a good ribbing.

The cast is brilliant (I love when actors I know best from another role make me completely forget they're anyone but Capt. Roberts, or Lt. Pearson, or Dodds, or...Michael Palin). The production completely brings alive outdated jokes and stories from a war over for a century already. The ending is completely satisfactory.

If you're not a student of history, keep Google at hand to look up some quick references. If you are a history buff, prepare to laugh, and tear up (a little). THE WIPERS TIMES is funny, sad, poignant, and funny. And splendid.

Co written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman this tells the story of Fred Roberts and his lieutenant and friend Jack Pearson. While based in Ypres, Belgium they discover a near working printing press. Their Sergeant used to work in newspapers and with his help they set up a satirical magazine and name it 'The Wipers Times' – in honour of the way 'Tommie's pronounce Ypres.

They go for the ludicrous – where ever possible - and often take a swipe at those in command, but the paper is a hit and soon they are getting noticed. This is set during the destruction and slaughter of World War I and that is included in the film, as well as mustard gas, food shortages and the filth of the trenches. The film recreates some of the sketches from the papers as black and white pieces using the same characters and this adds to the surreal nature of the paper and how it was a break from reality for those that read it.

Starring Ben Chaplin as Roberts and Julian Rhind-Tutt as Pearson who are both perfect castings for their respective roles, this was produced by the BBC to mark the anniversary of 'The Great War', along with other memorable films and series. This I felt was one of the best and dealt with an aspect of war that is often missed out, at one time it is said that 'war is nothing more than wallowing in a dirty ditch'; well this proved that humour could take men out of that ditch if even for a short time. Absolutely recommended and a credit to all involved in its production.

I can only think that the reviewer who thought that this should have been more like The Hangover has little to no knowledge of the First World War, let alone of conditions in the trenches. Maybe diffusing unbearable situations with humour (and much of the humour that emanated from those trenches was actually blacker - and bluer - than that portrayed here) is one of those Very British Things. That was certainly brought up in this film, when the contrast was drawn between the Germans' "Hate Song" and the British soldier's humour and irreverence.

Personally, I really enjoyed the way that the sketches were shown: much about them was true to the time period and yet they were presented with a touch of the surreal to remind the viewer that what you saw on the screen was only a stylised representation of the written word.

I thought the actors were very good; the subject matter bittersweet, and overall it was an excellent representation of a fascinating story. There were one or two moments when I felt that the smooth, sarcastic, off the cuff exchanges between the major characters was a touch too smooth, but overall it fitted the period, the story and the way the screenwriters and directors chose to present it.

If you don't already know anything about The Wipers Times or about the Trench Warfare of the First World War then you may, indeed, not enjoy this as much as someone who does have a little bit of prior knowledge.

A really refreshing take on the First World War, with gallows humour aplenty. Definitely worth a watch for the perfectly judged performances by Chaplin, Palin and Rhind-Tutt. Sadly, the story doesn't really go anywhere and just fizzles out, so not quite a top rating, but so close.