1917 (2019 film)

917 is a 2019 British war film directed and produced by Sam Mendes, who co-wrote the screenplay with Krysty Wilson-Cairns. The film presents a dramatized account of a mission during World War I, following two young British soldiers who must deliver a message warning of an ambush during the German Operation Alberich in 1917. Shot to appear as two continuous takes, the film stars George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, with a supporting cast including Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Plot

Set on April 6, 1917, during World War I, the film follows Lance Corporals William Schofield (George MacKay) and Tom Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman), two British soldiers given a crucial mission. After aerial reconnaissance reveals that the German army has made a strategic withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line rather than a retreat, the two soldiers must deliver an urgent message to Colonel Mackenzie of the 2nd Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. The message orders the cancellation of a planned attack that would result in a catastrophic loss of life, including Blake's brother Joseph, who serves as a lieutenant in the battalion.

The soldiers traverse dangerous territory, crossing through abandoned German trenches and encountering various perils. After a series of harrowing events, including a tripwire explosion and an encounter with a dying German pilot who fatally wounds Blake, Schofield must complete the mission alone. His journey takes him through the ruins of Écoust-Saint-Mein, where he faces sniper fire and must evade German soldiers. After surviving a perilous river crossing and waterfall, Schofield reaches the 2nd Battalion just as their attack begins. Running parallel to the trenches under heavy fire, he successfully delivers the message to Colonel Mackenzie, who reluctantly calls off the attack. The film concludes with Schofield finding Blake's brother to deliver the news of Tom's death and share his final moments.

Production

Development

The project was acquired by Amblin Partners in June 2018 following competitive bidding from multiple studios. Mendes, who had previously directed Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015), developed the story based on tales told by his paternal grandfather, Alfred Mendes, who served as a messenger for the British Army during World War I. The film's development moved quickly, with George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman cast in October 2018, followed by the addition of the supporting cast in March 2019.

Cinematography

Legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins, in his fourth collaboration with Mendes, filmed 1917 to appear as two continuous shots. This ambitious technical achievement required extensive planning and choreography. The film marked the first use of the Arri Alexa Mini LF digital cinema camera, chosen for its combination of large format sensor and compact size. Deakins primarily utilized three focal lengths: 40mm for most scenes, 35mm for tunnel sequences, and 47mm for river scenes.

Filming

Principal photography began on April 1, 2019, and continued through June 2019. Filming locations included:

• Wiltshire
• Hankley Common in Surrey
• Govan
• Shepperton Studios
• River Tees, Teesdale

The film's climactic sequence, known as the "Schofield Run," required two days to shoot and involved complex choreography with over 500 extras. The scene featured MacKay running approximately 300 meters amidst explosions and extras, with an unscripted collision with two soldiers that was kept in the final cut.

Music

Thomas Newman composed the film's score, which was released as a soundtrack album on December 20, 2019. The soundtrack notably excludes Jos Slovick's rendition of the American folk song "The Wayfaring Stranger," which was later released separately following public demand.

Release and Reception

Box Office

1917 proved to be a commercial success, grossing $159.2 million in North America and $225.4 million internationally for a worldwide total of $390.4 million against a production budget of $90–100 million. The film's strategic limited release in December 2019, followed by wide release in January 2020, helped build momentum through awards season.

Critical Response

The film received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its technical achievements and immersive storytelling. On Rotten Tomatoes, it maintains an 88% approval rating based on 472 reviews. Critics praised the innovative cinematography, though some felt the continuous-shot technique occasionally detracted from the narrative. The film garnered particular praise for its realistic portrayal of World War I warfare and its ability to convey both the grandiose scale of the conflict and intimate human drama.

Awards

1917 received numerous accolades, including:

• Three Academy Awards: Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects (from ten nominations)
• Two Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director
• Seven BAFTA Awards, including Best Film and Best Director
• Three Critics' Choice Awards, including Best Director

Historical Accuracy

The film's narrative was inspired by Operation Alberich, a German strategic withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line that occurred between February 9 and March 20, 1917. While the main characters are fictional, the film has been praised for its attention to historical detail in terms of military equipment, customs, and practices of the British Expeditionary Force.

Some historical discrepancies exist, particularly regarding the portrayal of racial diversity in the British Army. While the film shows Black soldiers serving directly in British units, historically, Black troops primarily served in colonial regiments from Africa and the West Indies. Similarly, Indian Sikh soldiers would have served in their own regiments rather than being integrated into British units.

Military historians have noted that while many aspects of the film are historically accurate, some tactical decisions portrayed, such as units attacking without adequate artillery support, would have been unlikely in actual warfare of the period.

Legacy

1917 has been credited with elevating World War I cinema to new technical and artistic heights, bringing attention to an often-overlooked period in military history. The film's innovative cinematography and immersive storytelling techniques have influenced subsequent war films and historical dramas. In 2023, Parade magazine included 1917 in its list of the "50 Best War Movies of All Time," cementing its place in the canon of great war films.