Films

Charlotte: A Royal At War tells the story of Luxembourg's Grand Duchess during the Second World War and how she made regular radio broadcasts from various locations around the world to her home country to try and keep those living in Nazi occupied Luxembourg inspired.

The film has been directed by Guernsey man, and former BBC Guernsey reporter, Ray Tostevin.

Filming in Luxembourg

Ray told BBC Guernsey that this project had taken more than three years to come to fruition and that it started when his production partner Lynn had a chance meeting with a journalist from Luxembourg who mentioned Grand Duchess Charlotte's story.

Initially the project was to be a 30 minute television documentary, however, while researching the story the team came across enough material to make a feature length film including contemporary documentary footage, alongside re-enactments of events.

Ray said he "wondered if it would ever be finished" as the research and filming took them from Luxembourg and London to the USA where they uncovered even more documentary footage.

The finished film was premiered at Bafta in London in September 2008 and the screening was attended by The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Re-enactment of a BBC Broadcast

As recognition for telling the story of Charlotte the Grand Duke of Luxembourg awarded the production team a civilian honour rather like those given out by The Queen to film makers and artists in the British honours lists.

Ray said he hoped the film would be shown on television at some point and that he had been in talks with BBC Four about screening it.

Following a successful cinematic release in Luxembourg the film was premiered in North America at the Gene Siskel Film Centre in Chicago on Tuesday 31 March 2009 as part of the European Union Film Festival.

The North American premiere was also notable as it was attended by Curtis Roosevelt, the grandson of former United States President Franklin Roosevelt with whom Charlotte was closely associated.

Ray said: "Charlotte's wartime friendship with President Roosevelt also played a key propaganda role in helping to win back freedom for her country".

The film was described as "an absorbing portrait of Charlotte and her loyal subjects" by Chicago Sun Times film reviewer Bill Stamets.