After Albert II of Monaco and King Charles III, Normandy welcomed Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on Thursday, June 6

After Prince Albert II of Monaco and King Charles III, Caen-Carpiquet Airport welcomed two new high-profile figures for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on Tursday, June 6.

Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg were spotted as they exited their plane in Normandy on Wednesday evening. The two Hollywood stars are set to attend two ceremonies in the region: the bi-national American-French ceremony in Colleville-sur-Mer and the international ceremony in Saint-Laurent-sur-Mer.

Their presence in Normandy for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings is significant as the two men portrayed this historical event on the big screen in the iconic film "Saving Private Ryan," released in 1998.

Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks had already attended D-Day commemoration ceremonies in 2004 for the 60th anniversary of the landings, one year after the release of "Saving Private Ryan." To commemorate this 80th anniversary, Spielberg's film is being re-released in 300 theaters across France on Thursday, June 6.

BFMTV.com has offered a selection of films and documentaries on its website to delve back into this historical event.

In fact, cinema has long been interested in the Normandy landings, even before the 80th anniversary. Artists have been exploring the various facets of this key moment in World War II for years through films, documentaries, and even series.

Among them is "Les Femmes de l'ombre" (Female Agents) featuring Sophie Marceau, Julie Depardieu, Marie Gillain, Déborah François, and Maya Sansa. Released in 2008 and directed by Jean-Paul Salomé, the film pays tribute to the women who played crucial roles in the success of D-Day but whose contributions have often been overlooked. These women, whether nurses, spies, or ordinary civilians, had significant roles in the liberation of France.

"The Atlantic Wall," released in 1970, is a Franco-Italian comedy film by Marcel Camus starring Bourvil, who plays Léon Duchemin, a Normandy restaurateur during the Occupation in 1944. Germans, resistance fighters, and smugglers are among his many customers, but Léon Duchemin remains uncommitted. That changes when an Allied pilot finds refuge in his restaurant.

In 2001, a few years after "Saving Private Ryan," Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg reunited for "Band of Brothers," a critically acclaimed 10-episode series about World War II.

Instead of finding Private Ryan, the series follows the daily lives of Easy Company, a group of American soldiers. From training in the United States to arriving in England, from the D-Day landings to the front lines in Belgium and the liberation of Nazi Germany, the series offers a sweeping portrayal of the war from 1942 to 1945. The second episode, "D-Day," focuses specifically on the famous D-Day landings.

The "Band of Brothers" series by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, featuring Damian Lewis, highlights the American armed forces. More recently, the film "Masters of the Air" (2024), starring Austin Butler and Callum Turner, focuses on the air force.

Released in 2023, "They Landed on June 6, 1944" is a 40-minute documentary by YouTuber and streamer Rivenzi.

From the weather conditions on D-Day to the soldiers' equipment, Operation Fortitude, and the hedge battles in the Normandy Bocage, Rivenzi revisits the many facets of D-Day armed with archival footage and expert commentary.