The critically acclaimed war film has been released this week 1917 (2019) available on Netflix. Director Sam Mendes’ film became a worldwide success after its theatrical release and is still seen by many film enthusiasts as one of the most impressive war films of recent years.
Based on personal story
1917 Set on April 6, 1917, in the middle of the First World War. Two young British soldiers are given the seemingly impossible assignment to deliver an important message to a battalion about to walk into a death trap. If they fail, 1,600 soldiers risk dying. What 1917 what makes it so special is the way the film was shot. Thanks to Roger Deakins’ stunning camerawork, the entire film appears to be one continuous take. In reality, the film consists of dozens of carefully hidden editing points. According to Mendes, the shortest continuous take lasted just 39 seconds, while the longest scene was filmed continuously for over eight and a half minutes.
The story is also personal for the director. Mendes was inspired by his grandfather Alfred, who as a 17-year-old delivered messages across no man’s land during the First World War. It was only decades later that he talked about his experiences that ultimately formed the basis for the film.
Oscars
Reviewers were almost unanimous in their praise for the technical performance of 1917. Deakins’ camerawork, Mendes’ direction, impressive production design and Thomas Newman’s atmospheric music were particularly praised. The film received no less than 10 Oscar nominations and managed to win 3. 1917 Won the Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects and Best Sound Mix and was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
8.2 Watch on Netflix • At the height of the First World War, two young British soldiers Schofield (George MacKay) and Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) are assigned a seemingly impossible mission.
Beeld: Still ‘1917’ via TMDb
