A True Tale of War, Peace and Love
Northeast Film Festival
Jersey Shore Film Festival
PICTURED
Editor - Jack Diehl
Director - Lawrence Schwartz
Old soldiers never die, they just make you smile. John Santillo, a World War II D-Day survivor, travels back overseas for the 75th D-Day Anniversary to relive his time at war. Through a story that moves between the past and present, John opens up about the years he spent overseas using his unique blend of charisma, optimism and humor that captivates everyone he meets along his journey.
This film follows two narratives: John's life as a soldier during the 1940s and his 2019 D-Day Anniversary trip to France. Through the interweaving of these two stories, the film contrasts John's time as a young man drafted into the Army with his view on the war now as a 97-year-old veteran. While he faces haunting memories from his past, John comes to grips with how deeply the war affected him.
JOHN SANTILLO is a true American hero, a decorated World War II veteran who has dedicated his life to educating younger generations about the courage and sacrifice of his comrades and the horrors of war. His message resonates even more powerfully today.
At the heart of “Oh, Johnny!“ is John's emotional return to France for the 75th anniversary of D-Day in 2019. And while the war remains the defining event of his life, John's full story can be best described in two words: joyful and inspiring. Among the highlights, he is a recipient of the French Legion of Honour, France’s most prestigious medal. And in 2018, his hometown of Brick, New Jersey proclaimed a day in his honor and awarded him a key to the city.
"Oh, Johnny!" captures John's vibrant personality, his inimitable sense of humor, and his indomitable spirit and zest for life. It serves as a heartfelt tribute to a man and a generation whose heroic legacy must never be forgotten.
Lawrence is a retired television producer (NBC News), print journalist (New York Post), and educator (Rutgers University, New York City public schools). He is passionately committed to perpetuating the legacy of our World War II veterans. He has served on the Advisory Board of the Center for World War II Studies at Brookdale College in New Jersey, and is a Charter Member of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.
He is also a member of the National Council for History Education and the Organization of American Historians.
Lawrence is currently working on his new film, which explores contemporary antisemitism.
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