The first trailer for Unbroken, Angelina Jolie's first film in the director's chair, has been published online.Adapted from Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand, the film explores the real-life story of Louis Zamperini, a US Olympic track star who met Hitler at the 1936 Olympics, before being drafted into World War II following the bombing of Pearl Harbour. After being shot down from his plane in the Pacific, he spent 47 days drifting on a raft before being captured and interned as a prisoner of war in Japan for over two years.Unbroken stars rising British actor Jack O'Connell as Zamperini – he's already known for roles in Starred Up, This Is England and Skins, but the film marks a jump towards Hollywood for the 23-year-old. In support are Domhnall Gleeson and Garrett Hedlund, and the film was written by Joel and Ethan Coen, the filmmakers behind a huge number of acclaimed dramas like Inside Llewyn Davis, Fargo and The Big Lebowski.
Jolie is already familiar with directing martial films, having helmed Serbian war drama In the Land of Blood and Honey in 2011 – but the big aerial action sequences and Pacific-spanning action of Unbroken mark a step up in scope for her third film as director. She has recently hinted that directing is now where her heart lies, and may retire from acting.She described Unbroken as "the hardest thing I've ever done" in a US television interview, describing "a huge responsibility to get it right... I love [Zamperini] so much and he’s helped me so much in my life." After researching the film and "pitching my butt off" to get it made, Jolie discovered that Zamperini lived just across a Los Angeleno valley from her house. "I imagine that for the last 10-something years, [Zamperini has] been sitting there having a coffee in the morning and wondering who's going to make this movie," Jolie said "And I've been sitting in my room laying there thinking, 'What am I supposed to be doing with my life? I wanna do something important ... I need some help. I need some guidance. Where is it?' And it was right outside my window." Unbroken's upcoming release is now especially poignant, as Zamperini died aged 97 earlier this month. The film will reach cinemas on Boxing Day.
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