A Filmmaker’s Return to Normandy: Rodolphe Rutman’s New D-Day Projects
Rodolphe Rutman’s New D-Day Projects : The internationally recognized filmmaker and expert on D-Day has a deep-seated connection to Normandy. He has recently returned to the Bessin region of France to begin work on several new D-Day projects. In this exclusive interview, he shares his personal story, his past work, and his exciting new plans for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
A lifelong passion for Normandy’s history
Rutman’s fascination with Normandy began in childhood. He spent vacations in the Pays d’Auge but always longed to visit the D-Day beaches that his parents avoided. At 17, he finally made the pilgrimage, arriving in Arromanches with a copy of Cornelius Ryan’s “The Longest Day” in hand.
Years later, his career as a photographer and journalist led him to a new path: dedicating himself to the duty of memory by making documentary films. Over the past 30 years, he has produced several acclaimed documentaries on D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, collecting powerful stories from men and women who endured the horrors of war.
“Normandy and its painful past have made me who I am today: a history enthusiast,” Rutman says. “With all the knowledge I’ve accumulated, I feel it’s my duty to serve the duty of memory and remind the younger generations what happened here.”
Documenting the past
Rutman’s documentaries have explored various aspects of the war. In 2004, he released “Big Red Omaha,” which chronicled the experiences of veterans from the Big Red One division who landed on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. The film was broadcast on France 2, France 5, and the German channel ZDF. He also produced “The long sobs of autumn violins” about the Norman Resistance and “Crossed Destinies” about two soldiers—one German and one American—on D-Day. Both films aired on Arte and other channels. His 2014 documentary, “D-Day – In the footsteps of our fathers,” was produced for six German television channels as part of the 70th-anniversary commemorations.
Rodolphe Rutman’s New D-Day Projects : The 80th anniversary
For the upcoming 80th anniversary of D-Day, Rutman has several ambitious projects in the works.
He recently completed a multi-year investigation that led to the discovery of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress that had been missing for 80 years. His research enabled him to locate the crash site near Omaha Beach and piece together the history of the plane and its crew. Rutman is planning to share this incredible story with the Norman public in the coming weeks. He’s also working to fund a monument dedicated to the airmen, which will be installed near the crash site.
This event is part of a larger project he’s calling “D-Day Memory Days.” A key component of this initiative is “D-Day Docs for All,” which will offer free public screenings of his documentaries in towns across the region, including Trévières, Saint-Vigor-le-Grand, Hérouville-Saint-Clair, and Caen. He also plans to lead tours of the D-Day sites, primarily for school groups, as part of an operation called “D-Day Discovery for All.”
Rutman’s dedication to preserving the memory of D-Day is unwavering. He will always be “very D-Day,” as he puts it, for many years to come.
Read more news articles about Rodolphe Rutman’s new D-Day Projects and “REMEMBER” HERE.
For the full news article in French, CLICK HERE.
