War Film for ASD 12 year old

[BrunchBarBandit]

My 12 year old ASD son has developed a special interest in geo-politics and wars around the world over several centuries and can talk about them (endlessly it seems, bless him)

He’s never been very interested in films, and sitting down as a family to have a movie night but it occurred to me that we might tempt him with a war film.

I’m looking for ideas. Some realism (blood and guts) would be ok but not too excessive.

It can be any war

Can I ask for MNtrs recommendations?

The boy in the striped pyjamas or Life is Beautiful?

I absolutely bawled at both though…

Or Jojo Rabbit? All have war seen through the eyes of children of children.

ooh the imitation game is quite a good one. until the ending which can be upsetting
its a war film without ever seeing the war

It was my Mum’s favourite film! It’s an unusual take on a war film in that it’s funny and you are rooting for the anti-heroes to get away with a crime. It helps you remember that soldiers are just people…on both sides!

All is quiet on the western front

But traumatic though

If you are looking for a shared family activity (though films are also good) you could also play a video game together like world of tanks. Not that violent really, strategic, lots and lots of different kinds of tanks to talk about. I wouldn't want to be encouraging my 12 year old to be playing the violent shoot people games, but the tanks thing is mostly shooting at other tanks and can be done together. I find tanks very boring. But I can make myself interested on behalf of my son (also the tank museum in Dorset is a good shout if you are close to there).

Von Ryan’s Express?

@karmakameleon that’s a great tip. Ds likes to read up on films, watch you tube reviews and then give a full commentary when watching the actual film because he knows everything there is to know. But that’s probably not the family movie night vibe the op is hoping for. @BrunchBarBandit I really get where you’re coming from. It’s been very hard finding family activities. But the connection is so important.

We play D&D together but it’s a bit strained because dh has zero interest and I’m trying hard but still a bit clueless. We used to have an Among Us session at the weekends but even that was hit and miss. We visit places of interest to him but once he’s inhaled all the information by reading the boards at top speed he wants to go home. Now. If we go out to eat he’s tolerating smells, and noise that make it hard to enjoy what limited food choices he has. He’s making huge concessions to join in and I sympathise because I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than play his video games.

Agree with this.

Or Hacksaw Ridge as mentioned by PP.

Operation Mincemeat was good too and I loved that it was based on a true story

My DS with AN enjoyed The Great Escape (bonus - watch Chicken Run!)

What about War Games (1983)? It's a fictional Cold War kind-of teen movie, with Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy, all about geo-politics and nuclear threat. Very interesting and thrilling without being loud or violent. Also features very early internet and 80s home tech which is quite fun.

And don’t forget M A S H American ‘comedy’ (though often very sad) set in an emergency field hospital during the Korean War. It’s repeated on cable tv.

There is a film of MASH too, it's wonderful.