This film is part of Free

Dawn
Controversial true story about a First World War nurse who risked her life to save others.
Overview
Dame Sybil Thorndyke stars as nurse Edith Cavell in this controversial telling of her true story. Working as a nurse in German-occupied Belgium during WWI, Cavell helps a deserter to escape. She realizes that many soldiers need her help to flee and proceeds to assist them, despite grave risk to herself. Thorndyke delivers a terrific performance as the Norwich-born nurse who became one of the Great War's most controversial martyrs, alongside a cast including Madame Bodart, one of the women who actually assisted Cavell in Belgium in 1915.
Refused a certificate when originally submitted to the British censor, Dawn was eventually released in 1929. It was remade by the director 10 years later as the Oscar-nominated Nurse Edith Cavell, starring Anna Neagle.
Related

New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Bell of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.

Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.

On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.

Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.

All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.

Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.