Overview: 'The Long Road Home' depicts an escaped British POW's epic battle for survival whilst on the run in war-torn Italy, as his wife and young son anxiously await news in England. shot across five countries and over three years in production.

DVD Verdict: 'WWII The Long Road Home' is an incredible, and true story, beautifully filmed that was written by, starred in, filmed by, edited by, and directed by 16 year-old Elliott Hasler, about his Great Grandfather in WWII.

Made on a shoestring budget over three years, the film may well house the storyline of a true human hero, but it's the creative telling of a young father's WWII experience (as he strives to return home to his family) that notably showcases the creative talent of the teenager at the helm, young Hasler.

Having had many conversations with his Great-Grandfather over the years, Hasler allows his story to unfold over several months, the most pertinent coming early on when young Charlie is first captured by the Italians in Africa.

Interspersed with scenes from home in Brighton, England, as his young wife Tup (played, in her own powerhaus performance, by Alice Rogers) struggles to bring up their young son, Charlie encounters both friend and foe as he travels North and, ultimately, home.

As you would expect, over the 75 minutes we bare witness to senseless killings and loud explosions and, well, war at its "finest" from all angles, all shot here with great control for a more cinematic approach to them (rather than needlessly bloody).

Shot throughout in a sepia-toned haze, everything has evidently been second and third guessed to ensure complete authenticity - save for some rather dodgy Italian accents, of course - and so the end result is a quite wondrous film that roars with life and fervent admiration for a man who went to war for the love of his family. This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.78:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs.