1917 tells the story of two British soldiers who must race along enemy lines to deliver an urgent message, which, if not delivered, will result in the death of 1,600 men. Despite this simple plot, it’s one of the most critically acclaimed films of 2019.
The format in which this film was shot is a technical masterpiece. Comprised of only a handful of cuts, the film is edited to look like one continuous take. It isn’t the first film to follow this format, with Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) winning best picture at the Academy Awards in 2015 and Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope being the first continuous-take film in 1948.
1917 is something of a slow burn, not an action film with movie stars jumping off helicopters. There’s a feeling of constant danger where the main character’s journey could end with a single bullet. There’s no doubt that 1917 is one of the greatest World War I films of all time. Starring Dean-Charles Chapman from Game of Thrones, and George Mackay, who previously starred in Captain Fantastic, the entire cast put on Oscar-worthy performances.
Every moment of this film feels like you’re watching a video game because of the one-take method. Director Sam Mendes admitted he was proud of his five-minute-long continuous-take scene from the beginning of his last film, Spectre, and he knew he had to shoot an entire movie with the one-take format. The sheer amount of work that must’ve gone into this is a feat that must be admired. Everything from the set to the acting is truly believable and unforgettable and leads to a deeper appreciation of veterans service.
The French front setting is what one would imagine the setting of a nuclear war to be. The cinematography team had to use flares as the sole source of lighting for the eeriest scene in the film, and they built toy models of the set to coordinate the set, lighting, and actors, before actually filming. Cinematographer Roger Deakins won this year’s Academy Award for best cinematography, adding onto his Oscar in 2018 for Blade Runner 2049.
There were certain moments which lagged, but given the format it’s to be expected. There’s a particular scene where one of the soldiers is sitting in a bus chatting with other fellow soldiers for a few minutes, which could be seen as relevant. But there were a couple scenes that just didn’t fit into the story whatsoever and were obviously thrown into the storyline to extend the running time, like the soldiers sitting on the bus drinking whiskey and Lance Corporal Schofield playing with a baby. However, these are only minor nitpicks of a film that swept the Academy Awards this year.
The storyline is based on stories that director Sam Mendes’s grandfather used to tell him as a child. Perhaps this firsthand experience from the director’s grandfather contributed to the atmosphere of the film, since it feels so realistic. Real-life tactics the Germans used back in World War I are depicted, with booby traps being set and telephone cords being cut to limit the enemy’s communication. There’s one specific scene where the Germans cut down apple trees and gunned down farm animals to diminish the British army’s food supply. A scene like Schofield accidentally putting his hand through a corpse’s chest adds to the realism of the Great War.
While watching the film, you can’t help but wonder about the point of the violence, or what they were fighting for. In one scene when Schofield kills a boy his own age, they looked like they could’ve been brothers. When Richard Madden’s character learns of the death of his baby brother, watching him try to stay strong while grieving his loss is heartbreaking, as is the moment we find out that Schofield stays in the trenches rather than going on leave just to have to say goodbye to his family all over again.
In my opinion, 1917 is a must-watch for anyone who appreciates war films. It’s one of my favourite war films of all time and will be remembered for generations. Please do yourself a favour and check it out rather than the latest generic blockbuster. Having won numerous Academy Awards, this film transcends time and is the perfect example for other war films to strive toward.
