'Royal Cousins at War' Aug. 20 tells story of how WWI started
Rehoboth Beach Film Society, CHEER Center at Long Neck, and BBC Worldwide invite the public to a special screening of “Royal Cousins At War” from 1 to 2:55 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 20. The event will be held in the auditorium at the CHEER Center, 26089 Long Neck Road, Millsboro. The screening marks the centennial of the start of World War I with an account of three cousins who helped fuel the first global conflict.
“Royal Cousins at War” is a fascinating documentary that recounts the complex relationships among Tsar Nicholas ll of Russia, Kaiser Wilhelm ll of Germany and King George V of England. All three were related by birth or marriage to Queen Victoria, and this is the story of how a royal family tore themselves and a continent apart. The film uses real footage to show the last time all of the leading powers of Europe were together.
No one could have predicted that just a year later, these family members would plunge into a bitter and bloody war against each other. The film also tells the tragic story of King George’s refusal to grant his cousin and close friend Tsar Nicholas asylum following the Russian Revolution of 1917 - a refusal that would lead to the brutal murder of the tsar and his family by Bolsheviks in summer 1918.
Adrian Van Klaveren, the BBC World War l centenary controller, called the venture that produced this film “the biggest and most ambitious pan-BBC project ever commissioned.” This film is only available in the U.S. during August.
This event is free to the public, but preregistration is required due to limited seating. Register online at www.rehobothfilm.com; click on the Special Events link. Registration closes at 4:30 p.m.,Tuesday, Aug.19. For more information on this series, other events, or to become a member, visit the Rehoboth Beach Film Society at www.rehobothfilm.com or call 302-645-9095.
