Entertainment Extra

2 ENTERTAINMENT EXTRA By Joshua Amy TV Media E very day, we pass by a multi- tude of strangers going about lives that are mostly invisible to us. These ordinary people deal with all of the things that the rest of us also do. But, when the stakes are high, ordinary people can be capable of extraordinary things. Even in the face of a world gone mad, the power of the human spirit endures. On Sunday, April 5, take a look inside the private lives of people challenged to overcome extraor- dinary circumstances in the pre- miere of "World on Fire" on PBS. In terms of perilous times, few points in history can hold a candle to the political ten- sions of Europe in 1939. "World on Fire," the latest offering from the PBS Masterpiece collection, is set during this foreboding climate of uncertainty and the days leading up to the Nazi occupa- tion of Warsaw, Poland. The series unfolds through the per- spective of everyday people whose fates are intertwined in this world on the brink of war. It gives audiences a look at the remarkable things that ordi- nary people are capable of, even in the face of humanity's worst impulses. Over the course of the series, viewers can expect to see both the overwhelming hardships of World War II and the resounding triumphs of those who overcame such challenges. "World on Fire" features a sweeping narra- tive that covers a lot of ground, specifically the first year of the war. Its ensemble cast brings a host of vibrant characters to life, diverse characters living in Poland, Germany, France and Britain during one of the most disruptive times in human histo- ry. "World on Fire" opens with Harry Chase (Jonah Hauer-King, "Little Women"), a British trans- lator stationed in Warsaw, Poland, in the days just before its occupation. Harry lives a carefree life, splitting his time between his diplomatic role and his Polish sweetheart, Kasia Tomaszeski (Zofia Wichłacz, "1983"). When he hears rumors of an impending invasion, Harry promises to help Kasia flee to Britain — but waiting for him there is a life that he's kept hid- den from her. Kasia is a dynamic character willing to take up arms and join the Polish resistance fighters to mount an offensive against the invading Nazi regime. Returning to Manchester, Harry is reunited with his girl- friend, Lois Bennett (Julia Brown, "Shetland"), a young factory worker who moonlights as a singer. With the rumblings of war growing closer to home, Lois's family cannot avoid the implications it has for them. Her father, Douglas Bennett (Sean Bean, "Game of Thrones"), is a veteran of World War I, which was an experience that left him with deep emotional scars and a steadfast pacifist conviction. Tom Bennett (Ewan Mitchell, "The Last Kingdom"), Lois's chronically troublesome brother, finds himself on a dangerous course where his only prospects are prison or enlistment. In the German capital of Berlin, American journalist Nancy Campbell (Helen Hunt, "Mad About You") works dili- gently to report the advancing German war effort. However, she is caught in a struggle against the censorship of an authoritarian regime. Across the continent, Nancy's nephew, liv- ing in Paris, is unnerved by the encroaching armies of the Reich. Webster O'Connor (Brian J. Smith, "Treadstone") is a doctor facing persecution by far-right French nationalists for his relationship with jazz musi- cian Albert Fallou (Parker Sawyers, "Southside with You," 2016). As the entire world is thrown into conflict, "World on Fire" masterfully weaves all of these characters' fates into a grand tapestry that encompass- es much of the human experi- ence during World War II. For anyone interested in history, or fans of action-packed period dramas, this series is certainly a must-watch. Originally aired on BBC One in the U.K. last fall, the action- packed drama garnered both critical and audience acclaim. The series' premiere was released to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the invasion of Poland, which happened in September 1939. Although the particulars of "World on Fire's" story are fictional, the series is a bold attempt to accurately portray the historical climate of the war and its effect on ordi- nary people. Hunt's journalist character is largely inspired by real-life war correspondent Claire Hollingworth. Considered the first war correspondent of the war, Hollingworth was the first reporter to break the news of the German invasion of Poland. While traveling from Poland to Germany, she noticed German troops gathering at the border, which she reported for The Daily Telegraph, signaling the start of what would become World War II. YMCA 2 x 2" Pear Tree Gallery 3 x 2" On the Cover Sean Bean as seen in "World on Fire" WWII drama highlights the power of ordinary people D&J Liquors 3 x 2" American Legion Post 60 2 x 3" Thrifty Muffler 2 x 2.5"

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