Hymn of Hate is the directorial debut for beloved Northern actor, Matt Kennard who has been acting since the age of 10 and whose credits include Emmerdale, WPC 56, Coronation Street, and Hollyoaks.

Set in No Man’s Land at The Somme during WW1, Hymn of Hate is a poignant and never more relevant film, made to coincide with the centenary of the end of the Great War.

The most famous hate-the-enemy, nationalistic poem of the war was written by Ernst Lissauer, a German-Jewish poet. His “Hymn of Hate” was composed shortly after war broke out in 1914, to stir up a tribal hatred of the English:

We will never forego our hate,
We have all but a single hate,
We love as one, we hate as one,
We have one foe and one alone

In just a few short months, it was translated and published in the United States (then a neutral nation). The New York Times admired Lissauer’s technical skill, but described the poem as “simply abominable,” and “a brutal and wicked production.” In Germany, not surprisingly, the poem was an immediate success. The Kaiser honoured Lissauer, and the Crown Prince of Bavaria ordered that the poem be printed and distributed to his troops.

The film stars RTS winner Russell Tovey (Looking, Quantico, Him & Her, The Pass), Thomas Turgoose (This Is England, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Game of Thrones), and Andrew Knott (My Cousin Rachel, Black Mirror, The History Boys).

Reviews included:

“A truly affecting short film from a team of very talented filmmakers showing a class and respect beyond their years.” – The Filmmaker Magazine

“A heartfelt and moving short film. Poignantly made to mark the hundred-year anniversary of World War 1.” – Theatre and Art Reviews

Hymn of Hate is now available on Amazon Prime and Sofy.tv.