documentary | feature film

The Canadian Stalingrad

In the throes of WWII, "Ortona: The Canadian Stalingrad" unveils the gripping tale of Canadian soldiers and Italian civilians caught in a deadly urban combat punctuated by a haunting Christmas reprieve.

"Ortona: The Canadian Stalingrad" dives deep into a lesser-known chapter of World War II, as experienced by those who lived it — the Canadian soldiers and the Italian civilians caught in the crossfire. Through heartfelt recollections from Canadian and Italian survivors, the documentary paints a vivid picture of the fierce urban warfare that engulfed the city of Ortona in December 1943. With poignant moments like the Christmas meal in the Church of Santa Maria di Costantinopoli, a brief respite for war-weary soldiers, juxtaposed against the brutal street-to-street combat that earned the battle its harrowing nickname, this film sheds light on the indomitable spirit of those who faced "Bloody December" and the scars they carried long after the war was won.