Teenager’s Film About Hero Great Grandfather Screens At Edinburgh Fringe

A film telling the story of a soldier’s escape from a prisoner of war camp during WW2 made its debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival tonight.

Charlie's Letters is based on a true story and was remarkably written, filmed, produced and edited by the WW2 soldier’s great grandson.

Elliot Hasler (17) is now the youngest ever director to screen a film at the festival.

He said: “It’s about my great grandparents, mainly focusing on my great grandfather who was a POW in Italy and then he escaped and made a 400km journey south to Monte Casino.

“It’s a remarkable story, I mean he made this journey through an alien landscape and actually managed to get home safe to his wife and children.”

The film tells the story of Private Charlie Standing – who escaped a Prisoner of War camp in Italy during the Second World War.