Movie Club: The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

With pick #37 on AFI's Top 100, we're heading back to 1946, when America was celebrating the end of World War II and millions of veterans were trying to figure out what came next.

Directed by William Wyler, The Best Years of Our Lives follows three servicemen returning to their hometown after the war. There's Al, a middle-aged banker trying to reconnect with his family; Fred, a former bombardier struggling to find his place in civilian life; and Homer, a young sailor who lost both hands in the war. The film won seven competitive Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and features real-life veteran Harold Russell in a remarkable performance as Homer.

What happens when the war is over, everyone is supposed to be happy, and yet nothing is quite the way it was before? How do you return to your old life when you're no longer the person who left it?

I'm looking forward to exploring how this film tackles marriage, masculinity, disability, and the American Dream, especially since it was made while the country was still adjusting to peace. And I'm curious how its portrayal of veterans and homecoming holds up 80 years later.

Spend some time with this classic, notice what moves you or surprises you, and come share your thoughts!

✨ Watch ahead of time
✨ Come ready to discuss
✨ New faces always welcome

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Peace ❤️