In many ways, They Shall Not Grow Old is a traditional documentary rooted in tradition. In quite a few others, it is a unique and innovative film which combines innovative technology and countless new ideas and new techniques.
After Jackson was commissioned to create the film by the BBC, Imperial War Museum, and 14-18 NOW, he had a lot of work to do. He had to comb through over 700 hours of footage to piece together enough footage to create a documentary, which he was eager to do after constantly hearing stories about his grandfather, who fought in World War I.
This film isn't meant to be a traditional documentary. Jackson doesn't want audiences to come away knowing who the Central Powers were or what the triple entente was. He wants audiences to come away knowing what is was like to be in the trenches fighting against the enemy in WWI. And he wants audiences to know what is was like from those who fought in the war - not from historians or academics or generals who never step foot in a trench.
