“Life, to be sure, is nothing much to lose, but young men think it is, and we were young.” These words by English poet A.E. Housman appeared on a black screen in the opening minutes of 1917. The film perfectly encapsulates the understanding of both the vastness of war and the inherent immorality of stripping young men of not only their lives, but of the meaning of their lives as well, reduced to nothing more than numbers in a battalion waiting to be sent to their slaughter.
Released in the beginning of December 2019, this film provides a new perspective of the human condition in times of war, and is an unrelenting continuous film that operates with the same level of suspense as any thriller. Directed, co-written and produced (in part) by Sam Mendes, and dedicated to his grandfather Alfred Mendes who was a World War I veteran, the personal connection by the well-established director is a clear tone of the film.
1917 uses new innovative filming techniques and provides a gritty portrayal of the global conflict in a relatively nuanced and personal manner. Taken in one continuous shot, the film creates constant suspense that ensures your eyes stay glued to the screen to capture every moment.
Following actor George Mackay as Will Schofield, the plot follows a similar directive as other blockbuster war films, where it’s left up to one or two soldiers to deliver an order or information that could save the lives of thousands of soldiers. Schofield is forced to overcome and face obstacles both physical and otherwise, including the apparent hazards of World War I, emotional hurdles and the potentially fatal stubbornness of his superiors.
Perhaps even more impressive is that there are relatively few shootouts and gory deaths compared to what would be expected in a film about a war of this magnitude and destruction. However, despite its grim subject, the film still manages to somehow be beautiful in its design. Most memorably, one part of the film is late at night with a pitch black sky, and Mendes uses a unique style of lighting and shadows to create a visually astounding yet eerie scene.
Mendes already boasts an impressive directing resume, which includes several critically acclaimed blockbusters. The film plays off of this experience, borrowing the gravelly and somber themes from his time spent directing Skyfall and Spectre, and the logistics of directing a war film such as Jarhead, all accumulated into the creation of this masterpiece of cinema, which won Oscars for Best Sound Mixing and Best Visual Effects.
