First Friday Filmclub

Welcome to the 1st First Friday Filmclub offering for 2023! This year, all the FFFs are going to be from the Sabaton History Channel. There will be a sprinkling of other programs from that channel throughout the year at different points, as well. 

This Swedish band consists of; 

Joakim Brodén - lead vocals, keyboard, guitar

Pär Sundström - bass guitar, vocals

Chris Rörland - guitar, vocals

Hannes Van Dahl - drums, vocals

Tommy Johansson - guitar, vocals, backup keyboard

and what I have learned is that the term 'skalds' can be truly applied to them. They seek to convey and memorialize moments and people from various conflicts, teaching history in what is both an ancient and yet very modern way. Joakim and Pär are the main songwriters. Some of the events covered are relatively widely known - others are either forgotten or have never been revealed. 

The format of the history videos is the first half is Indy giving the actual history behind the song in focus, then a discussion takes place with either Joakim or Pär, which sometimes expands on the history itself or how the song came about - or occasionally goes off on tangents but always entertaining. Quite often, there is more than one offering of the song format - lyric videos, fan videos, or additional info. Accuracy and honesty are fundamental to Sabaton's storytelling. They seek, wherever it is possible, to find the humanity in the telling - no matter which side or conflict; but they also do not flinch from the facts.

We start this series, then, with one of the real 'uplift' stories (heaven knows there are few enough of them) from WW2. First, the history channel vid, then the song with some additional bits, and then the lyrics. Finally, a compilation news video with the two pilots sharing more of their experience, fleshing out this incredible tale of chivalry in the air.

In this next video, you will see the story told through animation, the full song - and more from existing footage of the two pilots, plus the one from the daughter of pilot Stigler. (If you already watched the first vid, you might prefer just to forward to minute 7:30 and watch that endpiece with the family.)

From down below, an enemy spotted

So hurry up, rearm and refuel

But through the bomber’s damaged airframe

See wounded men, scared to their bone

Look to the right and then look again

And see the enemy in the eye

No bullets fly, spared by his mercy

Escorted out, out of harm’s way

Fly, fighting fair, it’s the code of the air

Brothers, heroes, foes

Killing machine

Honour in the skies

B17

Flying home

Killing machine

Said goodbye to the cross he deserved

He risked his life two times that day

To save an unknown enemy

Escort to safety, out of the kill zone

A short salute then departed

PS - in case you did not see it, or as a reminder, I put out a call to action on the 

Christmas Eve Post. I am going to keep placing the link. Please spread the word, and quickly. The Collection Pot is only open until January 13th. Thank you.