The War Below is a historical drama film that follows the story of a group of British coal miners who are recruited by the army during World War I to tunnel beneath the enemy lines in Belgium. Led by Sergeant Harris, the miners are tasked with uncovering a network of tunnels below no man's land, and planting bombs underneath the German lines.
The film highlights the struggles that the miners face while working in the dark, cramped tunnels, and the danger that they come across while facing the enemy underground. It also delves into the personal lives of the characters as they grapple with ongoing effects of war, away from their families back home.
Through the determination of Sergeant Harris and the men, they diligently work towards their goal, and the film culminates in the Battle of Messines, where their efforts lead to a decisive victory for the Allied forces.
The War Below stars Sam Hazeldine as Sergeant Harris, Tom Goodman-Hill as Captain Pryce, as well as Kris Hitchen, Joseph Steyne, and Elliot James Langridge as the miners. It is directed by J.P. Watts and written by Simon Sheridan.
The film accurately portrays the historical events surrounding the tunnelling operation, which have often gone unnoticed in the larger historical narratives surrounding World War I.