In the spring of 1917 - a year, the Russian audience firmly associated with the revolution - the First World War raged in Europe. Against Germany, among others, were the British armed forces. As a result of fierce battles, the Germans launched a large-scale retreat.

The action of the tape "1917" begins on one of the quiet April days. Junior Corporals Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and Scofield (George Mackay) receive from the hands of the General (Colin Firth) an important task. They need to deliver to another battalion an order to abolish the obviously disastrous offensive: intelligence found out that the enemy had strengthened its position, but it was not possible to contact the military, who would go to battle at dawn the next day.

Blake, whose brother serves in that battalion, intends to immediately begin the execution of the order, while Scofield suggests waiting for the dark - according to his calculations, they will have time in any case. However, the arguments of the mind do not convince Blake, and colleagues are put on the task of the day.

  • Frame from the film "1917"
  • © imdb.com

Immediately, the opposition of the main characters becomes obvious: the laconic, gloomy, prudent Scofield and the talkative, lively emotions of the merry fellow Blake. It is interesting that during the joint journey the characters will change places - the brave Blake will seem superficial and infantile to the viewer, and Scofield, on the contrary, will demonstrate a sensitive and deep nature.

It is interpersonal relationships and human psychology in war that make up the plot of the film: the important thing is not whether the corporals have time to deliver the order, but how their perception of the world will change in the process of completing the assignment. Having relied on psychologism, and not on action, Mendes only wins.

Friends literally go through the horrors of war: their path lies through the rubble of bodies, earth blasted with shells, destroyed houses and abandoned military equipment. They will meet both a German killed in aerial combat (he will remain an enemy to the British until the end), and a Frenchwoman hiding from her friends and strangers in the basement with a baby found in ruins.

The realistic story is filled with symbols. These are blooming cherries cut down by the Germans, as if personifying dead young soldiers, or milk left on a plundered farm is a symbol of innocence.

References to religion also occupy an important place: crosses appear in the frame, and the ruined city at night, illuminated by the glow of a fire and flashes of signal flares, makes us recall the image of the biblical hell.

Military tricks in the frame and behind the scenes

Although the nature of the action of the tape determines one of the first words spoken in the frame - “hurry up” - it would be wrong to call the video sequence fussy. On the contrary, there is a place for suspense in it, when the viewer, along with the heroes, wonders what is hiding behind a hill or in a dilapidated house.

Tension also boosts the off-screen audio, which in this case seems excessive (the tape itself turned out to be quite emotional). But the music that the heroes themselves hear - a folk song about a house spreading over foreign lands - forms a separate powerful scene.

  • Frame from the film "1917"
  • © imdb.com

It seems that the film was shot "in one take" - the camera seems to be continuously following the characters, without switching and without missing a second. However, there are still editing gluings in 1917: the filmmakers admitted that in fact the longest shot lasts nine minutes.

For technically complex shootings, filmmakers developed two scenarios: textual and schematic (the second reflected the actions of the entire group, almost step-by-step movement of actors and cameras). Thanks to such a serious preparation, all the main artistic decisions were embodied in the filming process, and the installation took only a week.

The success of the film is also due to the impeccably selected cast. Chapman had already managed to grow out of the image of Tomman Baratheon (Game of Thrones), and Mackay starred mainly in independent films (Captain Fantastic and How I Love Now), so their creative baggage will not distract viewers from the story. Also in the frame are Colin Firth with his impeccably British charm, Andrew Scott (from the image of Moriarty he remained indestructible cynicism, now caused by the war), Benedict Cumberbatch and Richard Madden.

It’s important that the film is based on real events: the story embodied in the film was directed by Sam Mendes to his grandfather Alfred Mendes, who served as a messenger in the battalion of the royal shooters.

Not medals, but figurines

The works of the film crew were awarded a number of prestigious awards.

Only in January, the picture gathered several important awards. First, “1917” was the best dramatic film of the year according to the jury of the Golden Globe, which represents the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and Sam Mendes received a prize for directing.

The United States Directors Guild also awarded Mendes a prize as the best director of a full-length film. The tape received awards from the Hollywood Association of Critics: in particular, the organization noted the camera work and installation; the film was also recognized as the best military-themed tape (and at the same time the best tape of the year). The release was also appreciated by the Producers Guild - on January 20, experts awarded the film the title of the film of the year.

Now, experts are reading “1917” at least one “Oscar” - in all, the film is presented in a dozen nominations, including the title of the best picture. In addition, the tape claims British Academy Awards (BAFTA) in nine categories.

"1917" should remind the viewer that one cannot take a peaceful sky overhead for granted. And realism is more intimidating than fictional horror. The very fact of the war shown in the film is staggering, and viewers easily come to an important conclusion: this should not be allowed to happen again.