IMDb 0 1985 HD

The Dunera Boys

The Dunera Boys

1985
Drama History War
150 min G NA
6 / 10
0 IMDB

At the start of WWII the British Government decided to arrest all Germans in the UK no matter how long they had been there. Among those arrested were…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Ben Lewin / Jacqueline Sullivan / Brian Giddens / Hamish McSporran
Starring
Joseph Spano / Bob Hoskins / Simon Chilvers / Warren Mitchell / Joseph Fürst / Moshe Kedem / Steven Vidler / Mary-Anne Fahey

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

harrowing poignant injustice resilience displacement historical sombre impactful challenging informative moving bleak

Reviews

P
Penelope Hayes
May 21, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This is a film that demands attention, shedding light on a deeply unsettling historical episode. 'The Dunera Boys' effectively conveys the confusion and injustice experienced by its subjects, men who were wrongly classified as enemies. The performances are…

A
Arthur Davies
May 21, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

'The Dunera Boys' tackles a challenging historical subject with earnest intent. The film serves as a historical record, detailing the internment and transport of men who were often victims themselves. The cast delivers committed performances, though the overall…

I
Isobel Finch
May 21, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

A powerful testament to survival, 'The Dunera Boys' is a film that lingers long after the credits roll. It unflinchingly depicts the absurdity and cruelty of interning refugees as enemy aliens, a policy that led to the infamous…

M
Marcus Thorne
May 21, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This dramatisation of the Dunera affair offers a compelling, albeit at times sombre, look at a significant historical wrong. The film effectively portrays the shock and disorientation of the internees, many of whom were innocent civilians. The performances…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 21, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

A stark and moving account, 'The Dunera Boys' forces viewers to confront a little-discussed chapter of wartime history. The film captures the bewildering and brutal reality faced by men who, having fled persecution, found themselves interned by their…

FAQs

Yes, 'The Dunera Boys' is based on a historical event. It recounts the true story of hundreds of men, many of whom were Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany, who were arrested in Britain at the outset of World War II and transported to Australia as prisoners of war, despite their status as civilians and often victims of persecution.