The story of Parker’s new effort, penned by William “Billy” Ivory, is inspired by true events and is set in the summer of 2014. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France, octogenarian Bernard Jordan (played by Michael Caine) made global headlines. He’d staged a “great escape” from his care home to join fellow war veterans on a beach in Normandy, commemorating their fallen comrades. The bittersweet script is said to explore “the reality with wit and a very big heart”. Bernie’s adventure, spanning just 48 hours, also marked the culmination of his 60-year marriage to Irene (Glenda Jackson). The film will also celebrate “their love without any sentimentality and with an eye to the lessons we might all learn from the Greatest Generation”.
