Stream now with KPBS Passport!
Combining key moments in history with compelling personal stories, MY GRANDPARENTS' WAR is a new four-part series that takes a fascinating journey into the past to understand the extraordinary impact of World War II on the families of four British actors.
Helena Bonham Carter (THE CROWN, “Harry Potter” series), Mark Rylance (“Dunkirk,” “Bridge of Spies,” WOLF HALL On MASTERPIECE), Kristin Scott Thomas (“Darkest Hour,” “The English Patient”) and Carey Mulligan (“Promising Young Woman,” “The Great Gatsby”) each host a one-hour journey into their respective family histories as they travel to historic locations, from the beaches of Dunkirk to the former site of a prisoner-of-war camp in Hong Kong, to retrace their grandparents’ footsteps during the conflict that changed their lives forever.
All four Hollywood stars have unanswered questions about the scars the war left on their grandparents. In each episode, they’ll discover remarkable stories of bravery amid the most harrowing circumstances, uncovering the life-and-death decisions their grandparents were forced to make. The series examines universal themes of love, courage and self-sacrifice through the dramatic human stories of ordinary people caught up in one of the most horrific wars of all time.
EPISODE GUIDE:
Episode 1: “Helena Bonham Carter” - Follow actress Helena Bonham Carter as she explores the heroism of both sets of her grandparents during WWII -- her grandmother, an air warden and outspoken politician, and her grandfather, a diplomat who save hundreds from the Holocaust.
Episode 2: “Mark Rylance” - Follow actor Mark Rylance as he explores the extraordinary story of his grandfather, who spent nearly four years as a Japanese prisoner of war during World War II, and examines his own beliefs about war and peace in the process.
Episode 3: “Kristin Scott Thomas” - Follow actress Kristin Scott Thomas as she pieces together a lost chapter of her family history, learning how her grandfather, a Royal Navy officer, saved thousands at Dunkirk and survived some of World War II's most devastating battles.
Episode 4: “Carey Mulligan” - Follow actress Carey Mulligan as she travels to Japan to learn about her grandfather's experience as a British naval officer during World War II, including the Kamikaze attack he survived, and the extent of the devastation he witnessed.
Watch On Your Schedule:
Episodes are available on demand with KPBS Passport, a benefit for members supporting KPBS at $60 or more yearly, using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn how to activate your benefit now.
