In the brutality of war, how do you remain human? This award winning film shows war in all its awfulness, not just by the blood but by how death comes unfairly, suddenly and seemingly randomly.

The opening scenes as Captain Miller (Hanks) and his men storm the beach on D-Day is quite extraordinary. The film then slows down as Miller is ordered to lead a patrol out to find Private Ryan and return him safely. Top brass have learned that all three of Ryan’s brothers have been killed and want to spare his mother a fourth telegram. So eight men set off to save the life of one. And of course it’s tragic, sad and painful. It raises no end of questions: and that’s perhaps why it’s such a powerful and emotive film.