Gary Oldman's acclaimed portrayal of Winston Churchill in the 2017 film Darkest Hour is set to air on BBC One this Sunday evening at 8pm. The British World War 2 epic, which earned two Academy Awards, will also be available on BBC iPlayer for a limited time afterwards.
A Performance That Swept the Awards Season
Oldman's performance as the British Prime Minister won him Best Actor awards at the BAFTAs, Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and the Oscars. The film, directed by Joe Wright, focuses on Churchill's early days in office during May 1940, as Nazi forces advanced across Europe.
The film's synopsis reads: "May 1940. As the Nazis advance against Britain's European allies, newly elected prime minister Winston Churchill must decide whether to leave neighbouring countries to their fate by striking a peace deal with Hitler, or fight on against terrifying odds for the greater good."
The Title's Historical Significance
The title Darkest Hour refers to how Churchill described the earliest days of World War 2, when the Nazis had the upper hand after conquering much of Europe. Oldman has previously teased the possibility of a sequel set at the Yalta Conference with Franklin D. Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin.
Darkest Hour airs on BBC One this Sunday at 8pm and will be available on BBC iPlayer for a limited time afterwards.
