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Reflections & Co.

The Best Years of Our Lives

a homecoming
William Wyler's 1946 film about men returning home from World War II and the difficulty of life on the American homefront post-conflict is an amazing study of war's effects.

Wyler's 1942 classic, Mrs. Miniver, documented British life on the homefront during the war, and chronicled the sacrifices of one family during the Blitz. The film's moving story and truly shocking ending were credited with mobilizing U.S. support for fighting World War II.

With _The Best Year of Our Lives_ Wyler examined the costs of war not usually recorded in a nation's war ledger. The psychological damage, the effect on industry and the job market, even the impact on relationships were examined through an emotional lens. While some critics have argued that the film's happy ending undermined its critical edge, it remains one of the best films ever made about war's impact on society.
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