If you've never heard of a Canadian sniper who is dubbed the most effective sniper of the First World War, now is your chance to get brushed up on history.
Electric Motion Pictures will show its Chatham movie premiere of The Ace and The Scout at the Capitol Theatre Friday night.
The movie's writer and director, Aaron Huggett of Oil Springs, told CK News Today the film highlights the stories of Canadian flying ace Billy Bishop and sniper Francis Pegahmagabow who were involved in a little-known First World War battle in August of 1918 called the Battle of Orix Trench in Northern France.
Huggett said The Ace and The Scout tells the story of two young friends caught behind enemy lines who must rely upon their brothers-in-arms, including Anishinaabe sharpshooter Pegahmagabow, to survive three days while waiting for reinforcements.
"The film presents a true Canadian history story that asks us to re-examine heroes, legends, and the true costs of freedom," said Huggett.
The movie, which was 99 per cent shot in Southwestern Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic and has as much historical accuracy as possible, including authentic period weaponry, on-set military advisors, and aerial footage of First World War airplanes, according to Huggett. Huggett said he consulted the Pegahmagabow family and traveled to the original battle site in France to recreate the trenches and battlefield.
Hugget noted The Ace and The Scout presents an alternative to the history taught in schools, which he calls "whitewashed, sanitized and propagandized."
"The Great War was fought by young Canadians and our Indigenous neighbours alike, even though they could not vote in elections," he said "We examined archives, traveled to battlefields, and unearthed a story that must be told."
Hugget said this is the biggest movie he's made to date and it was a remarkable experience.
"I had the opportunity to go up in the gunner's seat of a Sopwith 1-1/2 Strutter World War One plane and film a dogfight over the skies of Ontario between a German Fokker and an SE-5A (British plane) to film a historic dogfight between Billy Bishop and a number of German pilots," said Hugget. "The actual battle that we feature and focus on in the film, it's kind of an Alamo moment for our Canadian soldiers at Orix Trench also."
The Ace and the Scout features an actor from Chatham-Kent named Sam Biskey. Biskey studied acting at the University of Windsor.
Tickets for the showing at the Capitol Theatre Friday evening can be bought by clicking here.