'Pressure', a film about the meteorologists of the Normandy Landings

Many professionals are involved in the success of a military operation, and some of them are little known.

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"Pressure" is the original title of a film released in the United States on May 29 and in the United Kingdom on September 11. It premiered in Spain this Friday, September 18, under the title "Tiempo de victoria." Directed by Australian filmmaker Anthony Maras, the film tells the story of Group Captain James Stagg (1900–1975), a meteorologist with the Scottish Meteorological Service who served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) Volunteer Reserve during World War II.

In 1944, Stagg led the team of meteorologists responsible for forecasting the weather for the Normandy landings. It was a task of immense responsibility, as the success or failure of the largest amphibious landing operation in history could hinge on their prediction.

Irish actor Andrew Scott took on the lead role of Stagg, delivering an excellent performance. The cast also features Brendan Fraser as Dwight D. Eisenhower ("Ike")—the Supreme Allied Commander on the Western Front—who also gives a fine performance (I never would have imagined seeing that actor play Ike). Chris Messina plays Irving P. Krick, the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) meteorologist who worked alongside Stagg on the forecast; the two men clash significantly. An Irish actress plays the role of her compatriot Kay Summersby —Ike's personal secretary during the war— who, years after the American general's death, claimed to have had an affair with him; a claim the film does not support. We also see British actor Damian Lewis as Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery —a solid performance (though I much preferred his role as Richard Winters in "Band of Brothers").

I thought the movie was going to be weak, but I was pleasantly surprised. The story is well told and never gets boring. It features excellent scenes of the Normandy landings and also includes colorized footage from the era, providing great documentary-style background for the plot. It’s a better movie than I expected, and I recommend it. Here is the trailer for the film: