1917
Sam Mendes ’ grandfather’s stories of World War One have resulted in the film-maker dramatising an incident where two soldiers must travel to deliver a message to call off an offensive, which is a trap, in order to save thousands of lives. The film is notable for being a single shot: the camera stays on the protagonists for the entire running time: no cut-aways, no flashbacks, nothing to distract from the people. The premise sounds similar to Saving Private Ryan , with the War being the horrific backdrop to a personal story. If you’ve been to Ypres and the Menin Gate, or Arras or Vimy Ridge… any ground that was conceded or won in the ‘Great War’ you’ll understand the scale of devastation which is witnessed in part by Lance Corporal Blake ( Dean-Charles Chapman ) and Schofield ( George MacKay ). The single shot editing style quickly proves not to be a gimmick at all as the scene moves from almost beautifully peaceful countryside to trenches and explosions. Death surrounds every...