"1917": An Epic War Film that Captivates from Start to Finish

By: Dan Langer

April 21, 2023

Sam Mendes’ project, 1917, is an enthralling war flick set during the first World War. It utilizes a “single shot” recording style and is truly immersive. The storytelling, acting performances, and cinematography work together to create a tense and emotional story about the brutality and chaos of war.

The movie follows two British soldiers, Lance Corporal Schofield (George Mackay) and Lance Corporal Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman). The soldiers are given a mission to deliver an important message across enemy lines in order to prevent a British attack on the German army. The message warns the British that the Germans have set a trap which will result in mass casualties, including Blake’s brother.

This mission takes place over the course of only a day as the soldiers cross dangerous terrain to deliver the message. Along the way, they encounter various obstacles and dangers, such as fallen bridges, German enemies, and the daunting “no man’s land.”

The film’s most impressive aspect is the recording style. The single, uncut shot gives the viewers the feeling of being right there with the soldiers. The camera follows the men through trenches, across no man's land, and through bombed cities. This creates a sense of tension and looming danger as you follow the two men and experience what they have to go through. The cinematography is a little disorienting at first as not many movies are filmed in the same style, but once you get used to it it becomes a truly creative and stunning style that puts the viewer in the scene.

Thomas Newman’s music score creates a riveting and harrowing feeling at times. From the initial score of the lance corporals crossing no man’s land to Schofield moving through a bombed city up to the very end of the movie, the soundtrack paints a sense of what Schofield and Blake are feeling. It immerses the viewer in the scene and helps to put them in the mindset of the soldiers. The soundtrack evokes emotions and feelings not openly said by any of the characters and I think it’s one of the movie’s strongest aspects.

As great as the movie is, it appears a little graphic at times, being a movie about such a brutal and savage war. Some viewers may be a little disturbed by the content of the film, but that is the reality of war. All in all, 1917 was an absolutely incredible film with an equally astonishing soundtrack. The cinematography, though different to the norm, only added to the immersion and greatness of the film. If you’re comfortable with sitting through movies about war or are a history buff, I would highly recommend you watch 1917.