Film: Pressure

They always manage to uncover seemingly small stories from War 2 that turn out to have massive historical weight. This one focuses on another British obsession: the weather.

On the eve of D-Day, the UK's Chief Meteorologist is called in by UK-based General Eisenhower (the brilliant Brendan Fraser), on Churchill’s recommendation. Of course, his intelligent views clash with the brash, arrogant, frankly lazy US equivalent, and as the relentlessly shown trailer shows, Group Captain James Stagg (Andrew Scott) does what he can to convince Eisenhower not to start the operation, fearing the troops will perish.

The American relied on historical charts and was ‘lucky’ that his predictions had come true thus far, but mostly in settled climates. Northern Europe, as we know, has no such consistency.

Stagg instead meticulously analysed real-time data from reports around the world. It’s staggering to think that military decisions of this magnitude were ever made on the assumption that the weather would simply repeat year after year.

Adding to the immense pressure, Stagg’s wife is back home in Duntable, due to give birth at any moment, all while bombs continue to fall around them. True to form, there is one sensible, calm, all-seeing female character in the room, played by Kerry Condon.

A bit of research reveals there was a 1962 film on the topic, and that this version is adapted from a play, that I would very much like to see on stage.

NB: I don’t know what a ‘Group’ Captain is.

7½/10