Watch Here be dragons

Here be Dragons is a documentary film from 2013, directed, produced and narrated by Mark Cousins. The film is a personal essay exploring the relationship between cinema and war. The movie takes its audiences on a journey through the history of warfare in cinema, from its first silent images to the present day. The documentary is a reflection on the fascination that war has always had on the movie industry, with Cousins analyzing how war and death are portrayed on film.

The title of the movie comes from the olden days of cartography, where new areas of the map were often marked with the phrase, "Here be Dragons". Cousins uses this phrase as a metaphor for exploring uncharted territories in the world of cinema. The documentary questions whether cinema allows us to understand war or whether it simply enhances our fascination with the topic.

Throughout the movie, Cousins visits various locations, providing a visual backdrop for his musings. He visits famous war film locations such as Deer Hunter and Apocalypse Now, as well as lesser-known productions such as Claude Lanzmann's Shoah. Cousins uses these films to explore both the aesthetics of war and the ethical questions it presents.

The documentary starts with Cousins visiting his hometown of Belfast, that is now a peaceful place but still haunted by the Troubles. Cousins uses his own personal connections to the city to delve into the question of whether cinema can ever adequately capture the horror of a conflict. He looks at films that have covered the troubles, such as Neil Jordan's The Crying Game and the more recent Hunger.

The film looks at iconic war movies from history such as Laurence Olivier's Henry V, which was released towards the end of the Second World War. Cousins analyzes how the differing portrayals of war in these films reflect the social and political conditions of their time.

One sequence sees Cousins visit a cemetery in Normandy, France where soldiers from various countries are laid to rest. Cousins muses over the notion of memory, how we remember the dead and how cinema contributes to that remembrance.

Throughout the movie, Cousins draws on a wide range of sources, from poetry and literature to historical documents and interviews. The documentary also features interviews with filmmakers and critic such as Roy Stafford and Tony Grisoni, who offer their own take on the connection between cinema and war.

The documentary concludes with Cousins contemplating the role of cinema in modern times. He asks if movies can help us better understand war or whether they simply act as a distraction. The documentary leaves the viewer with plenty to reflect on and question.

Here Be Dragons is a thought-provoking and intelligent documentary that takes the viewer on a journey through the relationship between cinema and war. Cousins manages to combine an analytical mind with poetry, resulting in a movie that is both visually stunning and intellectually stimulating. The film is a melancholy exploration of the biggest conflict of human history, as well as questioning humanity's fascination with it. Overall, this documentary is a must-watch for anyone interested in understanding the impact of war on our society and how cinema portrays it.