Set in France in 1944 shortly after the Normandy invasion. The story concerns a squad of U.S. Army soldiers on a perilous assignment behind enemy lines. The mission: to risk their lives to save the life of one man, paratrooper James Ryan. Ryan is the last survivor of a family of four brothers, the rest of whom have been killed in action. The film was nominated for 11 the winner of several Acad emy Awards including Best Director.