1917 Review: A Journey into war

Considering the veracious popularity of war and conflict, it is welcome that 1917 plunges you into harsh truths stabbed between pockets of humanity. Sam Mendes’ war epic is a rolling, building and uncomfortable trek through the front line and beyond. In 1917, we follow two Lance Corporals as they race to bring new intel to the front line in a bid to save thousands of lives.

The journey will take you through a myriad of emotions. Your heart will beat out of its chest without a bullet being fired but plunge to a stop when trenches come tumbling down or mine shafts tear open to block the way. You will gasp and worry when silhouettes emerge from raging fired and salivate at the sight of milk.

Much of the picture is glued to the faces and the backs of our two leads: Dean Charles-Chapman as Lance Corporal Blake and George MacKay as Lance Corporal Schofield. We feel every squelching step, every laboured breath and every hit on their mission. British thespians such as Andrew Scott, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Mays and Mark Strong fill out the cast very well, providing both moments of levity, arrogance and wisdom.

It is, in truth, a typical tale. One in which the heroes race against the clock to stop an impending crisis, but by god does it make the ticking unbearable. It would be naive to say that 1917 puts you into the shoes of these soldiers. However, it does relay the truth about wars and differences in ideology; the innocent and the kind are stripped down and hardened because of the actions of those at the top of the food chain.

On a production level, 1917 is triumph of cinema and directing, Sam Mendes and the legendary Roger Deakins deserve everything and more for the meticulous artistry they poured into this project. And 1917 deserves to be viewed by everyone – a lesson to show that we still haven’t learnt from history and our mistakes.