There are many reasons why Gallipoli has become an important film in the history of Australian cinema (and its not even Australian, but Turkish). One of its biggest claims to fame, however, is that it was the first (and to date/memory, the only) film to cause Margaret Pomeranz to cry on TV!And it's easy to see why - Gallipoli is a profoundly moving experience. Anyone who has visited the World War I section of the Australian War Memorial would be aware of what the ANZAC troops went through in Turkey, but this film makes it so stark, so real, that you empathise with their many trials, both physical and emotional.

The unique thing about this film is that it doesn't just give the Australian/New Zealand perspective - you get the Turkish and British experiences as well. The narrative is portrayed through interviews, landscapes, re-enactments, digital animations and photographs, as well as readings of letters and diaries by Sam Neill and Jeremy Irons. It tells the stories of individual soldiers and their families, giving the film a personal touch.Whatever their personal stance on war, everyone should see this important and relevant film.