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Jersey War Tunnels has been awarded the rights to premiere the war drama film ‘Another Mother’s Son’ in the tunnel theatre on Wednesday 22nd March. The film tells the true story of Islander Louisa Gould who took in an escaped Russian POW during the Jersey Occupation.
The rights for the unique premiere are by kind permission of Bill Kenwright Films. Jersey War Tunnels played a significant part in the research for the film, which is set in Jersey during World War II. Mrs Gould, along with her brother Harold Le Druillenec, and sister Ivy Forster, was betrayed by neighbours in St Ouen and arrested in 1944 for harbouring Russian fugitive Feodor ‘Bill’ Buryi. Mrs Gould died in the gas chambers at Ravensbrück concentration camp in February 1945.
The films’ producer and scriptwriter visited the Tunnels to gather research and borrowed photographs of Mrs Gould from the collection for the movie. Scriptwriter Jenny Lecoat, who is Mrs Gould’s great-niece, will be attending the premiere at Jersey War Tunnels. She will be accompanied by actor Julian Kostov who plays escaped prisoner Bill in the film. She will be joined by an exclusive, private audience including local dignitaries. A collection for the British Red Cross will be taken on the night.
The film has attracted a stellar cast including Jenny Seagrove as Louisa Gould, John Hannah and former Boyzone singer Ronan Keating. It is directed by Christopher Menaul who is best known for The Forsyte Saga.
This will be the first screening of the film following the premiere in London on 16th March. Cineworld are then due to screen it in Jersey from 24th March.
Kathy Bechelet, Operations Director, Jersey War Tunnels, says:
‘We have been negotiating for the premiere to be held at Jersey War Tunnels for some time and it’s been really hard to keep it quiet but we had to wait for the international press reveal before we could make our announcement.
We are very pleased that the research for the film has been so thorough and that we have been able to be a part of it. This true story about one of our most courageous and inspiring Islanders deserves to be told and we hope that our premiere will be the most fitting tribute. It will be a poignant and atmospheric night and I am sure quite emotional for many. Having the film premiere in the Tunnels is something we will not forget and is another way of keeping our history alive.’
Jenny Lecoat, scriptwriter and the great niece of Louisa Gould, says:
‘The Louisa Gould story is a tale of immense personal courage and sacrifice, and an important part of Jersey’s Occupation history, but despite inclusion in several books and documentaries it has never been widely known outside of the Islands. George Bernard Shaw remarked that: “It is only through fiction that facts can be made instructive.” As Louisa’s great niece it was my great pride and honour to bring her story to the big screen in order that her life can finally receive the recognition it deserves, and I’m thrilled that myself and Julian Kostov will be in attendance at the first Jersey screening of Another Mother’s Son.’
