The Relief of Belsen

Synopsis

April 17th 1945. 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 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.

Reviews

Covering a period of a month after the British liberated Bergen-Belsen, this exemplary captivating drama-doc has a certain epic quality. The film packs a powerful punch and is a reminder that we yearn for happy endings in stories because there aren’t any in life. Utterly gripping and not to be missed.

The Guardian

Powerful and haunting.

The Financial Times

The performance that defines the drama comes from Iain Glen as James Johnston, the army medial officer in charge you can almost see his spirit cracking by the end you’ll be left blinking back the tears.

Evening Standard

The Relief of Belsen delivered a vivid impression of what the rescue operation must have been like and made you prouder than ever of that generation of British soldiers.

The Times

It combines a top-notch cast including Iain Glen and a first rate script artfully told and deeply moving.

The Telegraph, Abi Grant

The acting was as fine as one would expect from a a cast that included Iain Glen and not one but two Redgraves, Corin and Gemma. A worthy project, expertly accomplished.

The Independent

The use of hand-held camera adds vividness and it tells a largely unknown story so that – most unusually in historical faction – there is real dramatic tension.

The Sunday Times

Awards

• BAFTA nomination for Best Specialist Factual
• Broadcast Awards – Won Best Single Drama
• Royal Television Society Nomination for Best History
• Nominated Best Drama Documentary, Grierson Awards

Credits

Iain Glen

James Johnston

Corin Redgrave

Glyn Hughes

Jemma Redgrave

Jean McFarlane

Paul Hilton

Leslie Hardman

Nigel Lindsay

Mervyn Gonin

Tobias Menzies

Derrick Sington

Frog Stone

Hadassah Bimko

Henry Pettigrew

Alexander Paton

Katrine Bach

Lotti Burns

Simon Day

Major Stadler

Oliver Ford Davies

Martin Lipscomb

Iddo Goldberg

Emmanuel Fisher

Vern Griffiths

Richard Dimbleby

Erich Redman

Hans Eckhart

Christopher Sloman

Cecil Warren

Director

Justin Hardy

Writer

Peter Guiness
Justin Hardy

Producers

Justin Hardy (Hardy And Sons)
Susan Horth
Catherine Alen-Buckley