Watch Hello and goodbye

Hello and goodbye is a 1970 British war drama film directed by Jean Negulesco and starring Tony Randall, Tahiti and Adolfo Celi. The film is based on the 1968 novel of the same name by Athol Fugard. The story is set during the Second World War in South Africa and explores the moral dilemmas faced by three men caught up in the conflict.

The film opens with Dr. Sean Stein (Tony Randall), a Jewish linguist, arriving at a military base in South Africa where he is recruited by the British Army to help decode German transmissions intercepted in the area. Stein is initially hesitant to get involved in the war effort, but agrees to help out for personal reasons – he hopes that his work for the British will secure safe passage for his wife and children, who are still living in Nazi-occupied Europe.

Stein is paired up with Lieutenant Jameson (Tahiti), a black South African soldier who knows the local terrain well. Jameson is proud of his service to the British army, but is subjected to racism and discrimination by some of his white colleagues. Stein and Jameson initially clash due to their different backgrounds and personalities, but eventually form a strong bond as they work together to decode the German messages.

The third main character is Captain von Stanger (Adolfo Celi), a German officer who has been captured by the British after his plane is shot down over South Africa. Von Stanger is initially resistant to interrogation, but eventually agrees to provide information in exchange for better treatment. Stein is fascinated by von Stanger's knowledge of languages and culture, and the two men begin to develop a strange friendship despite being on opposite sides of the war.

The film explores themes of identity, loyalty and morality as Stein, Jameson and von Stanger grapple with their roles in the war. Stein is torn between his loyalty to his family and his duty to the British army, while Jameson struggles to maintain his dignity in the face of discrimination. Von Stanger, meanwhile, is faced with the question of what it means to be a German in a war he no longer believes in.

The film's visual style is stark and minimalistic, with much of the action taking place in drab military settings or the bleak South African landscape. The actors give strong performances, with Tony Randall in particular bringing a sense of intelligence and vulnerability to his role as Stein.

Overall, Hello and goodbye is a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant film that explores the human consequences of war with sensitivity and nuance.