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Oh boy, do I remember this one ! I can only agree with all the reviewers' comments so far. I was 10 at the time, and our TV had broken down, so I went to watch it a couple of streets away. This was the episode that ended with Sladdon running to the churchyard and the gravel path starts rippling . . . . I have never run so fast as I ran home that evening ! Wonderful plot - it can still make the hairs on my neck stand up just recalling it all.

Have just seen the Redux version, some 22 years after seeing the original. Suffice to say everyone came out of the cinema fairly shattered e.g. none of the usual happy gossip. This film is a masterpiece. I have to disagree with some reviewers who thought that the French plantation scene was unnecessary. I thought that to have a French perspective on the war (after all, they'd been there, done that ! ) added a lot to the story. Superb in every way. My only other comment, if you are in your twenties, for instance, make a date for yourself to see it again in whatever format will be around in 20 years time. This really needs to be seen again when you are older and when, I believe, you can get so much more out of it. No doubt a provocative comment, but it sure applied to the two of us tonight.

I have now seen this 3 times, and get more out of it with each viewing. The ensemble cast are marvellous, and the viewer is exposed to the whole range of emotions. A sad, but beautifully "rounded off" ending, too. Wonderfully scripted - provided the subtitling is as good as the version I saw, on SBS television in Australia. One of my all time favourites.