The Best Years of Our Lives

William Wyler / US, 1946 / 172 min.

‘How do soldiers return from the war?’, William Wyler, one of the big Hollywood directors, asked himself in his story of three American World War II veterans. One of them lacks hands and all three struggle with alcoholism and broken marriages.

poster The Best Years of Our Lives (William Wyler, US 1946)

Heroes, bad guys, action, drama, excitement and violence: the average war film uses templates intend to tell unequivocal ‘good vs. evil’ stories. William Wyler upended this and, a year after the end of World War II he released the subdued The Best Years of Our Lives, in which three veterans struggle to reintegrate into civilian society.

This is part of

Eye Classics

Director

William Wyler

Production year

1946

Country

Original title

The Best Years of Our Lives

Length

172 min.

Language

English

Subtitles

NLD

Format

35mm

Part of

Eye Classics

Eye’s collection includes a wealth of classics. We screen them regularly, in various programmes. Eye now brings film history even closer with its new series Eye Classics: three classics a week, chosen by Eye's programmers. On the big screen, screened in 35mm whenever possible.

Learn more