Film - 1917

1917 is not one shot as many have mooted but two main characters are rarely off camera. I am gripped the whole two hours as the two are picked to go across what was the enemy front-line to deliver a message that will potentially save 1600 lives. To pile up the pressure, one of them has a brother in that 1600 which answers why he was picked rather than someone more experienced.

What unnerved me, was that they ( George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman) were ordered to do this and yet, being the of low rank (what an appalling phrase) they were seldom believed or given any courtesy or support. When they did, courtesy of Mark Strong’s character, it was such a relief to sink back into my seat for a few minutes.

The film is at times suffocating, often lonely and mostly dark based as it on true accounts as told to the director Sam Mendes by his grandfather. Like most war films - modern ones anyhow-  it is absolutely frightening although ultimately a warm story of friendship and all manner of loyalties.

Please show it in schools.

8/10