Toy Soldiers (2010 film)

Toy Soldiers is a British documentary for BBC[1] by John Walsh. of Walsh Bros Ltd. For the first time on television children reveal what life is like when a parent goes off to war and was commissioned as part of the BBC's look at children in conflicts and war zones entitled the Army Zone.[2] "The child's voice has rarely been heard on this subject before. The goal of this film is not just to give a voice to this story but to challenge perceptions of children whose parents go to war."[3][4]

Toy Soldiers
Directed byJohn Walsh
Narrated byGareth Gates
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerRoger James
ProducerJohn Walsh
Running time28 minutes
Production companyWalsh Bros Ltd.
Release
Original release
  • December 6, 2010 (2010-12-06)

The film looks at how they try to maintain normality as their lives are interrupted by a conflict that they might not understand, taking place in a country they may never have heard of. For some a return is around the corner, for others a loss will affect the rest of their lives. It is narrated by Gareth Gates. The documentary uses animations, the children's own artwork, and interviews. The film was praised by Dr Geraldine Walford for challenging perceptions around the topic of childhood grief: "good to see this sensitive and crucially important topic being opened up for people to learn from."[5] Walsh discusses it on the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme.[6]

Festival nominations

Monte Carlo Festival of Television nominated, 2012.[7] Entered for Prix Jeunesse International Munich, 7-11 non-fiction category.[8]

Reception

In the Church of England Newspaper on 12 February 2012 they remarked that "In Toy Soldiers has featured some of the 175,000 children whose parents work in the armed forces, including Aiden who father died while trying to safely dispose of a bomb … this series is not to be missed."[9]

References
  1. "My Life". Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. 6 December 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  2. "BBC - Press Office - CBBC Autumn and Winter 2010/2011". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  3. "BBC - Press Office - CBBC commissions season exploring the lives of children affected by war". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  4. "Cynopsis: Kids!". Cynopsis.com. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  5. "Toy soldiers - childhood bereavement in the armed forces". Drmortons.co.uk.
  6. "audioBoom / Father's death 'took a chunk out of my heart'". Audioboom.com. Archived from the original on 27 October 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Celebrating love!". Retrieved 31 May 2022 – via PressReader.


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