Launched in 2019, the great war movie by Sam Mendes captures trench warfare with rawness and surprising immediacy, turning its viewing into a visceral, surprising, and immersive experience thanks to an impressive technical achievement: presenting all the action continuously as a great tracking shot. 

We are talking about 1917, a tale inspired by stories collected by the director from his paternal grandfather, Alfred Mendes, about his time in the First World War, a story set shortly after the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line during Operation Alberich.

An epic feat starring a top-notch cast, led by George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman, with Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch in supporting roles.

What's it about

At the height of the First World War, in the trench war on the Western Front on April 6, 1917, in northern France, two British soldiers, William Schofield and Tom Blake of the 8th Battalion of the British Regiment, have the important mission of delivering a message by hand to the 2nd Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment on behalf of General Erinmore.

A life or death message that includes orders to cancel an offensive attack against the German forces destined to fail, as it has been discovered that they have feigned retreat to the Hindenburg Line and are preparing to ambush the battalion of 1600 men.

For two hours, the film follows without cuts these two British soldiers on whom the lives of their comrades depend, including one of their brothers.

A large-scale production

The filming was done with elaborately choreographed long shots by Mendes and Roger Deakins (cinematographer) to give the effect of two continuous shots with only one apparent cut, which is justified narratively, as it happens just over an hour into the movie when one of the protagonists blacks out and regains consciousness hours later.

Filming started on April 1, 2019, and continued until June 2019 in Wiltshire, Hankley Common in Surrey, and Govan, as well as at Shepperton Studios. Scenes were also shot near Low Force on the River Tees, so the production staff had to put up signs warning walkers in the area not to be alarmed by the artificial corpses and body parts scattered around the site. Some sequences required up to 500 extras.

10 nominations at the Academy Awards

1917 received ten nominations at the 92nd Academy Awards, and won three Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects.

At the 77th Golden Globe Awards, it received three nominations and won two awards: Best Motion Picture - Drama and Best Director. It also received eight nominations at the 25th Critics' Choice Awards, winning three awards, including Best Director, and nine nominations at the 73rd British Academy Film Awards, being the most awarded British film with seven wins, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best British Film.

It was also chosen by the National Board of Review and the American Film Institute as one of the top ten films of the year and appeared on all critic lists compiled in 2019. 

*This article has been translated automatically using artificial intelligence