A screening of the film, ‘It happened here’ is set to take place in New Radnor next weekend, where part of the film was originally shot in the 1960s.

The film released in 1966 shows an alternate universe in which Britain is occupied after the failure of Dunkirk, and a German invasion. Under Nazi martial law, rebels attempt to free Britain from Hitler’s reign.

The film follows a main character, Pauline Murray, played by a woman called Pauline Jobson, the wife of amateur filmmaker, Doctor Jobson, who is believed to have come up with the idea for the film. Jobson was the doctor for the New Radnor area back in the 1960s and a passionate filmmaker.

‘It happened here’ is being shown at an event at the Hub in New Radnor on Saturday, November 30. A talk about the film will also take place.

Organiser of the event, Mark Levene told the Brecon & Radnor Express: “A group of us here in the village thought it was time we had a further outing of the film. It’s going to be an event where people don’t just reminisce about it but actually talk about the relevance of the film then and now.

“The filming in New Radnor came about because the doctor here at the time was a very keen amateur filmmaker. Somehow, he was in contact with Kevin Bronlow. His name was Doctor Jobson and it was his wife, Pauline who played the main character in the film, called Pauline Murray.

“She wasn’t a professional actor, but she was amazing in the film.

The organiser spoke about the importance of the film. He said: “This film is in the history of British Cinema and indeed world cinema. It’s a really important and utterly extraordinary film. This film is recognised by the British Film Institute as a major event in film history.

“It’s an alternative history in which Britain is occupied after the failure of Dunkirk, and a German invasion but it’s not sensational in the sense that it deals with this person (Pauline) who is at the centre of it. It is seen through her eyes. What it’s famous for amongst other things is its authenticity.”

A keen historian, Mark spoke about when he found out New Radnor’s links to the film. He said: “It’s incredible to me because I’ve only lived here for a few years, and by chance something cropped up that made it known to me that this film was filmed here.

“It’s a very significant film. I’m interested in film, I’m a historian in modern European history. This film meant something to me so I can tell you it was quite a shock to me to discover that it was part filmed here in New Radnor.

“The early scenes of the film are shot in new Radnor. It also involved the mobilisation of the village. Thanks to Doctor Jobson, and Pauline, some village people were involved in the film as extras and at the beginning of the film there is fighting in New Radnor which is depicted as another area and people are rounded up supposedly for their own safety by the Germans to be moved out the area.

“So, all these local New Radnor participants are the extras who were rounded up in the film and put on trucks and removed. But not everybody is removed, in the midst of the turmoil and some people are moved later on foot and they are in the process shot by German soldiers. It’s very graphic.”

The film was first publicly broadcast at a couple of film festivals in 1964.