Admittedly, I am not a keen viewer of war films, but in my mind, many follow the same old conventions and storylines that have been used again and again. From the trailer, that’s what I expected from Sam Mendes’s 1917, but that was not the case at all. 1917 doesn't tell the story of a huge battle with thousands of casualties - in a way, it is much more perilous and personal.
Told over the course of 24 hours, the film follows two young soldiers, Schofield and Blake, as they venture across treacherous enemy land to deliver an order that will save thousands of lives. The premise itself showcases the extremity of the mission the two men must undertake, but when that is paired with the formal decision to shoot in one (seemingly) continuous shot, it takes that extremity to another level.
Some may question the need for this stylistic choice, even going as far as to suggest it is just a gimmick, but I think the use of one long take works extremely effectively in 1917. We endeavour alongside the soldiers across the dangers of No Man's Land, frantically struggle to keep afloat as they fall into a river and run at full speed with Schofield across a live battlefield - this single take places us directly into the film, immersing us in the horrors of their reality. This film is exhaustingly tense and completely overwhelming, giving absolutely no time to pause or think, nowhere safe to hide.
Of course, filming a feature-length war epic in multiple long takes is no easy task. Cast and crew rehearsed for 6 months before it came to shooting, practising on empty fields before moving onto sets built to fit timings precisely. With no editing allowed, equipment including lighting had to be restricted, and so filming only took place when the natural light was just right. The emotional impact evoked through its impressive visual style proves that the challenges of filming 1917’s lengthy and complex sequences definitely paid off - and I’m sure their 10 Oscar nominations, including for Best Cinematography, Director and Picture, have also been of great gratification for all the cast and crew.
While 1917 has a large cast with many big names including Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Firth and Andrew Scott, the two protagonists followed throughout the film are played by some much lesser-known actors, and purposely so. George Mackay (Schofield) and Dean-Charles Chapman (Blake) both perfectly portrayed their
characters and the relationship between them. They are not fearless soldiers who are determined to destroy anything that stands in their way of accomplishment; they are two regular men who have families and empathise with the ‘enemy’, who are scared and hesitant, and who form a strong brotherhood that motivates them to carry on to the end, no matter how difficult the journey. While both strong performances, emphasis must be placed on Mackay, who carries the entire film with a sense of both innocence and resilience.
I must also mention the powerful score by composer Thomas Newman, which perfectly accompanies the adapting atmosphere of the film, shifting from understated and expressionistic but staying eerily beautiful throughout. With all these features combined, 1917 makes for a completely immersive and utterly enthralling watch, placing us at the heart of the action and emotion. Uplifting and inspiring, this film is much more than just a stylistic spectacle; it is a powerful tale of loss, comradery and determination.
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