Acclaimed Hollywood director Steven Spielberg has expressed his admiration for a documentary project being produced in East Yorkshire by Jonathan Levy. The project, titled Harold’s War, focuses on the story of a Hull boy’s fight against the Nazis during World War II, along with his family and friends. The documentary also explores the tensions in Europe and Britain during that time.
A key moment highlighted in the documentary is the ‘Battle of Corporation Field’ in Hull in 1936, where anti-fascist groups stood up against Oswald Mosley and his ‘Black Shirts’. The documentary is based on interviews conducted with Harold Bermitz and his family nearly thirty years ago by Jonathan’s son Daniel. These recorded interviews, along with live narration and re-enacted dialogues, bring the story to life.
Steven Spielberg, who had previously praised the project when it was submitted to the Shoah Foundation, has shown his support for this theatrical endeavor. In a heartfelt message, Spielberg commended the tribute to the memory of Harold’s family and the generation that lived through such difficult times. He described projects like Harold’s War as truly inspirational and wished the team the best for their upcoming performance.
Harold Bermitz, the central figure in the documentary, was not only a former director at Hull City AFC but also the founder of a national sports advertising business in Hull. Jonathan Levy, the producer of the project, shared that the inspiration behind Harold’s War came from the rise of extreme right-wing movements in Europe and global events that mirror the dark times of the past.
The world premiere of Harold’s War is set to take place at the East Riding Theatre in Beverley on September 5th. The event will be recorded as a radio-style podcast in front of a live audience and will include educational resources for further learning. The local cast of actors involved in the production includes Harold’s granddaughter, Hannah Levy, along with other talented performers.
Tickets for the premiere are available for purchase through the East Riding Theatre’s box office. The production promises to be a moving tribute to the memory of those who lived through World War II and a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up against fascism and racism. Jonathan Levy’s dedication to sharing this story and Spielberg’s endorsement of the project highlight the significance of Harold’s War in preserving history and honoring the resilience of past generations.