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Siblings Nathan, Jodie and Katie
Name of deceased: Guardsman Neil Tony Downes
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The Fallen
Saturday 15 November, 9.05pm-12.05am BBC TWO
 Programme copy
The families and friends of those who have died while serving with the British Armed Forces over the last seven years in Afghanistan and Iraq talk openly about their feelings, their loved ones and their grief, in a powerful and poignant new film for BBC Two.
Morgan Matthews, the director of the epic, three-hour film, talks to Programme Information about the idea behind it, how he contacted the families of the dead and what he hopes the film will achieve.
How did the idea for The Fallen come about?
"It seemed to me as though we, as a nation, were becoming desensitised to the news of British servicemen and women killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the majority of reports of those killed seemed increasingly generic and impersonal. Through this film, we wanted to make a tangible connection between viewers and the people who have died through intimate testimony from some of the families and friends who have been left behind. We wanted loved ones to have an opportunity to make their voices and feelings public and, by doing so, we hope that this will provide viewers with a small insight into the scale, intensity and legacy of this loss – a loss that is happening in our name.
"At the time of writing (22 October 2008), 297 men and women have died while serving with the British Armed Forces in the current military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. We feel it is important that each and every person should be mentioned in the film by name. For Remembrance Day 2008, more than seven years after British troops entered Afghanistan and more than five after the invasion of Iraq, it feels appropriate that we reflect on the loss of every one of these men and women whilst considering the effects on their families and loved ones."
How did you make contact with the families of the deceased and what was their response to hearing from you?
"Foremost in our minds has been the importance of informing the families of those that have died about the film, and approaching them in the most sensitive, respectful and appropriate manner. At the beginning of the production process, we endeavoured to write to all next of kin to tell them about the film and to give them the opportunity to make contact with us. During the making of the film, the production team has spoken on the phone or in person to more than 200 family members.
"Those families who have made contact with us are, for the most part, families who are keen to be involved in the film and who wish to speak openly about their experiences and their loss. However, some people made contact with us to let us know that, though they did not want to be involved, they approved of the making of the film. Others called simply because they wanted to talk.
"The production team feels honoured to have been making a film of such an important nature and to have been invited into the homes of some of those families who have lost loved ones. Our sincere hope is that this film will represent and remember some of the individual characters of those who have paid the ultimate price and bring attention to the perpetual sense of loss that parents and loved ones must endure."
How does the film mention every serviceman and woman that has died?
"The Fallen focuses on the stories of a number of families whose loved ones have died while serving with the British Armed Forces in the current military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. Alongside these personal testimonies, The Fallen names every single serviceman and woman who has died since 2001. Each name appears on screen, chronologically by date of death. Our hope is that the families’ stories, combined with the names of all of those who have died, will help us reflect that behind each name there are many family members and friends who have been devastated by their loss.
"We wished to represent all the servicemen and women that have died in a simple and poignant way. A small number of family members did not want any additional information other than that which is already in the public domain to be broadcast. We felt it was important to be consistent and so decided to mention all those that have died with their names appearing on the screen."
Have you only named those that have died in action or all of those that have died whilst serving out in Afghanistan and Iraq?
"We felt it was important to mention all those that have died while on active service in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001. Included in this are men and women who have not died in action, but rather as a result of accidents, natural causes, suicides or for whom the cause of death is as yet unconfirmed (due to ongoing investigation). We have taken this list of fatalities from the Ministry of Defence."
Do you consider this a political film?
"Our intention has been to remember those that have died and to tell the personal stories of some of those that have been left behind – we have not set out to make a political film. Whatever people’s political beliefs and how that divides response, our hope is that the film will explore the universal truth of losing someone you love in a conflict situation.
"We have spoken to some families who have very strong political opinions, whether these are pro-war or anti-war, as well as those for whom politics is of no great importance. We have found that, during the making of the film, a natural balance of opinions has emerged. However, essentially, this is not a current affairs film and the focus is on the personal rather than the political."
What do you hope the audience will come away thinking and feeling after seeing this film?
"We hope that this is a powerful film that portrays something of those who have lost their lives and those who have been left behind – and that through the very act of watching it, people are able to pay their respects and reflect on those who have died."
A three-hour one-off documentary is an unusual format. Why was this format chosen and what were the challenges?
"From the outset, we wished to make a film that included a significant number of families’ stories to enable viewers to connect with the true scale of loss across Britain. It was also our intention to include the names of all of those servicemen and women who had died in these campaigns to ensure everyone was represented. The length of the film has made this possible.
"There were, of course, many challenges whilst making the film, and the production team has had countless discussions and consultations regarding numerous issues in terms of content and structure. However, it is now a year since we began making the film and we hope that the decisions made along the way, and the solutions we found to these challenges, are the most suited to the film and the subject matter."
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