A chilling atmosphere pervades a forgotten village where time stood still one evening in 1943 amidst the throes of the Second World War. However, after 82 years, this ghostly village is stirring back to life as its untold true story becomes the backdrop for a historical drama currently being filmed.
The deserted village of Tyneham in Dorset is unlike any other place in the UK, echoing a past era and its history has remained etched in the minds of those who are aware of the tragic circumstances that led to its abandonment. In 1943, residents were compelled to vacate their family homes when they were given a month’s notice to leave – the British military had requisitioned the village for training purposes.
The villagers never returned to Tyneham, transforming the once thriving community into a ghost village – and more recently, a tourist attraction open on select days of the year. But now, the ‘loss, resilience, and the enduring power of love’, centred around the real events of Tyneham’s evacuation in 1943, is being immortalised in a new film.
Marcus Edward Bond, the writer, producer and director of the new film, Evi, is currently filming this historical drama in the village, bringing to life Tyneham’s true story. The film will depict the heartbreak experienced by one main character who was forced to relocate when the War Office requisitioned the village during WWII.
He said: “When I first set out to make a feature film, I wanted to tell an untold story. Tyneham’s history has been covered in documentaries, but I felt the villagers’ voices had never truly been heard through their own eyes. By creating characters such as Evi, the story becomes deeply personal, a child’s perspective of being evacuated, having already lost so much.”, reports the Mirror.
“It has been an uphill struggle at times, particularly with permissions, as the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and its contractors have shown little interest in us telling Tyneham’s story even ignoring our requests to film at Tyneham itself.
“My aim, however, is to tell it respectfully, honouring both the history of the village and the people who lived it, which has been made possible with the remarkable work of our cast and crew.”
The period drama draws from the actual events surrounding Tyneham’s evacuation in 1943, with the narrative unfolding through the perspective of Evi Reynolds, a determined young girl whose world is turned upside down when military forces seize control of her village.
Evi’s devastating odyssey witnesses her abandoning her cherished home, forming a bond with her carer Grace, then seeking sanctuary with Mrs Thornton – before eventually being reunited with her father.
“The film explores themes of loss, resilience, and the enduring power of love and memory”, Marcus explained, “it has been an inspiring journey so far, bringing to life the true story of Tyneham village”.
Marcus and his team, My Film Collective, are committed to preserving the tradition of quintessentially British historical films and ensuring the story of Tyneham is never forgotten.
Their ultimate goal is to launch EVI on Amazon Prime Video or a similar platform early next year, with a special screening at the British Film Institute (BFI) in London.
Their ultimate goal is to launch EVI on Amazon Prime Video or a similar platform early next year, with a special screening at the British Film Institute (BFI) in London.
Marcus said: “As we near completion, we are arranging a private screening at the BFI, where we’ll be inviting press, film critics, producers, and agents.
“We’re mid-production at the moment and on track to wrap by the end of the year.”