Stephen Fry backs film about former World War 1 friendship directed by ex Bury St Edmunds schoolboy

Film director, Gregory Nice, who grew up in Bury St Edmunds and attended Morton Hall School has produced a film about two English and German schoolboys who were friends before the outbreak of the First World War.

It has received the backing and support of Stephen Fry and will be screened for an invited audience at Abbeygate Cinema, in Bury St Edmunds, on Monday, December 10.

The film was set at Uppingham School where 461 former pupils died in World War 1 serving their country. Stephen Fry is an Old Uppinghamiam and Gregory Nice was also a student there from 2002 to 2007.

“Love Have I Known” centres on the relationship between English schoolboy James and his fellow pupil Otto who is German, and the dilemma they face when they realise that despite their close friendship, they are now officially enemies at war.

The inspiration for this thought-provoking short film came from a discussion between Gregory and Joseph Gassner who were friends at Uppingham School. They considered the likelihood that, had they been at the school together just before the outbreak of the Great War, they would probably have found themselves enlisting in their respective countries as young officers, destined to fight in the trenches and almost certain death.

“Love Have I Known” is an ambitious project’, says Gregory. “But a topic that I was determined to tackle. The film’s intention is educational: a reminder of the enormous personal cost of war; a plea for peaceful conflict negotiation and resolution; it promotes the sense of humanity and international unity.

“Uppingham School’s casualties were overwhelming, amongst the highest for a public school in the whole of the country. I am so grateful to the Old Uppinghamiam’s, for their contribution to the film’s funding. I was particularly pleased when Stephen Fry expressed his personal interest. Without them, this film could not have been made.”

Sinking all his personal savings into the project, Gregory assembled a remarkable cast and production crew:

“Love Have I Known” features Eugene Simon, as James, and Jono Bergmann, as Otto, for the leading roles.

The 25 minute short film will be entered for many international film festivals including Sundance, the Berlin Film Festival, Cannes and London.

Pictured above is the film crew on set at Uppingham School.