Why We Dream Review: Why We Dare Return

Why We Dream, Meredith Danluck’s new WWII documentary, brings veterans back to the beaches of Normandy to reflect on the events of D-Day.

This question drives the heart of Danluck’s latest WWII documentary, Why We Dream. Told through the perspective of several different veterans, all directly involved in the events that took place on the coast of Normandy on June 6th, 1944, the film looks back on not only the history of this day but the lasting impact it had on the veterans who took part in this battle. 

One of the most compelling aspects of Why We Dream is the array of veterans selected to be involved in the film. Danluck is able to bring a fresh point of view to this well covered topic by enlisting a diverse group of veterans who can give perspective to the stories that haven’t had their time in the spotlight.  

Voices like Betty Huffman-Rosevear, a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps who spoke to the experience of being a young woman widowed during the war but still determined to serve and bring aid to those who needed it. Or Gideon Kantor, originally born in Vienna, Austria but forced to flee to America during Nazi invasion only to later join the U.S armed forces and eventually help liberate the Ohrdruf concentration camp by the end of the war. Or even Arlester Brown, a Quartermaster engineer in the 599th Quartermaster Laundry Company, which was made up entirely of Black troops, who was recently awarded the Legion of Honour and Knight of the French Order by the French government. 

The unique perspective from each of the veterans masterfully weaves together a sprawling snapshot of America before, during and after WWII. Their stories add color to the context of the war and build a vivid picture of the attitude of the country as the U.S. got involved in the war. 

 When it comes down to the reason these servicemen and women dare return to a location that marks both tragedy and trauma, there is really only one answer: to remember. Regardless of how the events of D-Day have impacted each soldier, their return is a mark of respect to a moment in history that forever changed their life and took the lives of thousands of soldiers.

Some of the veterans return to look back at a specific defining, pivotal moment in their lives. Others to spend time with the spirit of the soldiers they had left behind that day, never to be physically reunited with again. But regardless of their specific intention, one thing is abundantly clear: these men and women are a living, breathing history.

Danluck utilizes the veterans’ first hand accounts, archival war footage, home movies and a plethora of other primary sources to put together this beautiful patchwork retelling of American culture and patriotism in the 1940s and beyond.

In the final moments of the documentary, a veteran points out the trees that now grow on the beaches of Normandy and how jarring it was to see that after their lasting image of what this place looked like 81 years ago. In the same breath, they point out the ways in which the trees that inhabit this area try to help one another grow when they can. 

It’s a beautiful way to say, even in the ruins of destruction, there is a chance for things to grow again as long as we are willing to help one another. Why We Dream underlines the importance of understanding history, no matter how tragic, so it doesn’t repeat itself again. It highlights how revisiting the past helps us understand the present and contextualizes the need to communicate and participate in the world around us. 

Why We Dream had its World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 6, 2025, as a Special Screening.