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Our Films
Piper Jimmy Richardson, driven by a strong desire, pleaded to be chosen as one of the pipers leading the Canadian Scottish over the top at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. When the battalion became trapped in artillery craters, enduring the relentless barrage of German machine gun fire, young Jimmy, at the tender age of 20, took it upon himself to play his bagpipes while marching up and down the line of barbed wire in no man's land. His purpose was to rally and inspire the 16th Battalion to keep pushing forward and capture the German position at Regina Trench. Miraculously, Jimmy emerged unscathed and set aside his pipes to assist the wounded. However, when he went back into no man's land in search of his beloved pipes, he disappeared, never to be seen again.
These extraordinary events are narrated through letters exchanged between Jimmy and his teenage sweetheart, Flora, who recounts her past in 2006 at the remarkable age of 108. It is revealed that Jimmy's pipes were ultimately found and returned to Vancouver, serving as a poignant reminder of his bravery and the sacrifices made during the war.
"Jimmy" is an emotionally charged film that pays tribute to the indomitable spirit of Piper James Cleland Richardson, shining a light on the untold stories of Canadians who served during the First World War. Through this poignant narrative, the film captures the enduring love and longing of Flora, the harrowing experiences of soldiers in the Canadian Scottish, and the profound impact of war on individuals and their communities.
"Jimmy" is a profoundly Canadian story that revolves around Piper James Cleland Richardson, a remarkable individual who was honored with the Victoria Cross, the highest medal for military valor. This narrative also encompasses the experiences of Home Children in Canada, the city of Vancouver before the First World War, the rapid mobilization of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and the fervent training and idealistic expectations of soldiers heading to the front lines, only to be shattered by the brutal realities of the trenches.
The film "Jimmy" follows the journey of the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish) during their time at Ypres, particularly focusing on the first gas attack and the subsequent battle at Kitcheners' Wood. It is during this battle that the Canadians earned their reputation for ferocity when, unintentionally, they pushed a little too far forward, penetrating the German lines and engaging in a fierce and intense close combat bayonet fight under the cover of darkness.
