Cover Story this Unity is strength

WWII drama highlights the power of ordinary people

By Joshua Amy TV Media

Every day, we pass by a multitude of strangers going about lives that are mostly invisible to us. These ordinary people deal with all of the things that the rest of us also do. But, when the stakes are high, ordinary people can be capable of extraordinary things. Even in the face of a world gone mad, the power of the human spirit endures. On Sunday, April 5, take a look inside the private lives of people challenged to overcome extraordinary circumstances in the premiere of “World on Fire” on PBS. In terms of perilous times, few points in history can hold a candle to the political tensions of Europe in 1939. “World on Fire,” the latest offering from the PBS Masterpiece collection, is set during this foreboding climate of uncertainty and the days leading up to the Nazi occupation of Warsaw, Poland. The series unfolds through the perspective of everyday people whose fates are intertwined in this world on the brink of war. It gives audiences a look at the remarkable things that ordinary people are capable of, even in the face of humanity’s worst impulses.

Over the course of the series, viewers can expect to see both the overwhelming hardships of World War II and the resounding triumphs of those who overcame such challenges. “World on Fire” features a sweeping narrative that covers a lot of ground, specifically the first year of the war. Its ensemble cast brings a host of vibrant characters to life, diverse characters living in Poland, Germany, France and Britain during one of the most disruptive times in human history.

“World on Fire” opens with Harry Chase (Jonah Hauer-King, “Little