This Thursday marks 75 years since Allied troops stormed the German-occupied beaches of Normandy, France, marking a decisive turning point in World War II. Steven Spielberg’s epic portrayal of this harrowing hour, Saving Private Ryan, netted five Oscars and ushered in a new era of immersive battle scenes. The 1998 film remains not only one of the definitive portrayals of D-Day on screen, but among the finest war movies ever made. (This Wednesday, June 5, Fathom Events will show the film in 600 theaters across America.)

In “‘Saving Private Ryan,’ D-Day 75, and Liberation’s Cost,” Brett McCracken takes us beyond the historical significance of Spielberg’s film to consider the spiritual significance, too. Have you missed its theological punch?