while watch a mundane modern movie ( the runaway bride ) with my granddaughter ( age 22 ) she ask me since you have be watch movie since 1938 and what be the great movie of your lifetime . boy . what a choice that be . it take me all summer of thought and relooking a some flick before i make my decision . it be the best year of our life . this movie have no flaw . it be one movie in which each one of the minor character part and dialog be essential to the whole story . there be not a single part in the film which could be leave out . the young girl fixation with her brother lack of hand and the man come home to young adult child who have grow up without him and with different idea and the portrayal of a young man whose only responsiblity be a a soda jerk who become the leader of a group of men and and be award medal for his action . a woman who must now adjust to the husband who life have be away from her for year . the realization of the folk who be in the safety of there secure home of the sacrifice these ordinary men make in their behalf . the look into the life of loving and living with a man without hand . a parent first look and reaction to their son new deformity . a man use to make life and death decision in a instant and have to return to the way of plod though a conservative bank loan structure . this be no sympathetic and tear jerking and heart strumming act . this be real life . it could not have be portray any different . this and my friend and be how it be . this could easily be consider a documentary . in this day of color film and please do not be turn off by the black and white because it be one of the fine b or w filming and editing and direct you will ever see . the casting be perfect . if i could and i would make it compulsory for anyone take history and film making and creative writing and sociology and family counciling or psychology to view and report on this magnificent example of the film maker art .