Common Sense Media Review
By Polly Conway
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Brief but dense WWII docu best for history buffs.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
How did a US plane end up in Burma to begin with? It was part of the CBI; the China Burma India theater that put Burma in the middle of a supply route between the two countries. The "Burma Road" was eventually cut off by the Japanese, which was a problem for the Chinese general Chiang Kai-shek and left the Chinese army waiting for supplies. Huda's pilot uncle Joseph, one of three "Flying Hubas," didn't make it home from the war, and Bill has spent many years trying to figure out why. Stationed at the CBI as part of the Air Bridge created to circumvent the Burma Road blockage, Joseph was in danger for a few reasons. Firstly, the planes were to fly over the Himalayas, a dangerous, low-visibility flight, notoriously called "the Hump." Secondly, the planes themselves were rushed to manufacture and still had a lot of bugs. Joseph's disappearance was a mystery that's haunted Bill his whole life, but he's finally ready to go there and try to discover the truth in person. Myanmar isn't an easy place to visit, with its jungles still full of wild animals, hostile military, and other dangers. Assisted by his confident and knowledgeable friend Ben Smith, a former CIA agent. Accompanied by guides, maps, and a lot of curiosity, the two men head into the jungle. Will they find what they're looking for on what they call "the quest of a lifetime?"
Is It Any Good?
WWII buffs will get the most out of this dense tale of one man's journey to find out exactly what happened to his uncle nearly 75 years ago. That said, this 28-minute film does a pretty good job of explaining the role of Burma in WWII and how a plane might have been lost while flying the Hump. Spoiler alert: they find the plane. In the most exciting part of the film, Bill and Ben finally come upon the plane in exceptional condition, and learned that Joseph Huda was felled on what should have been a simple flight. It's packed with info that might require some background on US history, but an interesting glimpse into one man's perseverance and ultimate success in solving a painful family mystery.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about mysteries. Why do you think people are compelled to solve real-life mysteries, and enjoy watching fictional ones?
Smith gets emotional when he talks about seeing the plane in person; he was reminded of the soldiers and how scared they must have been at the time. Have you ever put yourself in the place of someone who suffered, or experienced something difficult? How did it feel?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : August 26, 2020
- Studio : Roller Coaster Road
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : History
- Run time : 28 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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