The 2023 Disney short film The Shepherd is an intriguing Christmas story inspired by a short story by Frederick Forsyth. The film pays tribute to the pilots who, during World War II, guided returning aircraft home under difficult conditions, thereby saving countless lives.

The story takes place on Christmas Eve 1957, when a young RAF pilot named Freddie faces trouble over the North Sea while returning home. The plane’s instruments stop working, and his fuel level drops relentlessly. To make matters worse, he flies into an area of thick fog.

Just as it seems his flight is headed for disaster, a mysterious World War II-era plane appears. However, the plane and its pilot aren’t the only mysterious elements Freddie encounters that evening.

Drama / Thriller / Fantasy / Short Film

USA, 2023, 38 min

Cast: Iain Softley;

Crew: John Travolta, Steven Mackintosh, Ben Radcliffe, Asan N’Jie, Iwan Bond;

Parents Guide:

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