An Accidental Soldier, new ABC telemovie.

Update: The ABC has commissioned An Accidental Soldier, a new telemovie about Australian soldiers during the French campaign in World War I.

Based on the book Silent Parts by John Charalambous, it will be adapted by writer Blake Ayshford (The Straits, Crownies), produced by Kylie Du Fresne (The Sapphires) and Sue Taylor (The Tree, 3 Acts of Murder) and by Rachel Ward (The Straits, Rake, My Place, Beautiful Kate).

The book has been described as “one of the most poignant and unusual of reflections on war and remembrance. It bypasses so many well-trodden Australian fictional paths in making its own muted, moving way.”

The cast will include French actor Marie Bunel, Dan Spielman (pictured), Bryan Brown and Julia Zemiro.

ABC TV, Head of Fiction, Carole Sklan called it “…a moving and ultimately uplifting story of love that crosses language and cultures in a time of catastrophe. An Accidental Soldier tells a very different story about wartime courage and humanity.”

Producer Kylie du Fresne said, “It’s not the first time Goalpost Pictures and Taylor Media have found a French connection. Our companies had a happy and successful working relationship on the Cannes Film Festival-selected film The Tree which Sue produced and Goalpost’s Rosemary Blight executive produced. So we are delighted to come together again as producers of An Accidental Soldier, a highly original story, which we will bring to the screen with some of Australia’s best creative talent, including director Rachel Ward.”

It will be filmed in Western Australia, with production starting in September.

On Friday night ABC Drama dominated the AWGIE Awards with wins for Mabo, The Slap, The Straits and more.