Most of the war movies that I have seen are about the Second World War. But more and more I have been getting interested in the First World War. For that reason, I was excited to see the movie 1917.
The basic plot of the movie is that two British soldiers are sent on a dangerous mission to stop a British attack on the Germans. Intelligence has revealed it is a German trap and it will lead to a slaughter if not stopped.
One of the soldiers is chosen because his brother is one of those who would involved in the attack. The other is a friend who is chosen but who is not happy about this mission because of the danger.
One of the things that I liked about the movie is that it is not just the stereotypical trench warfare. we see this pair in numerous settings as they make their way through the dangerous terrain.
The movie is beautifully filmed, even when it shows the ugliness of war. We get the contrasts between beautiful fields, orchards and farms and the hell that both sides have made of the land.
In some ways I see 1917 as a cross between Saving Private Ryan and Dunkirk. It is a quest, in the sense of getting the message through, but it is more of a character-driven piece.
I found it interesting that one of the characters loses pieces of his kit as he proceeds through his journey. First it is his helmet and rifle, then his webbing and the rest of the kit. By the end all he has is his message for the colonel and his picture of his family.
This movie is not about battles and there really isn’t about action. It isn’t a celebration of who can kill more of the enemy. It is more about the courage it takes, even gradual courage, to do the right thing.
I loved 1917 and it is a great example of what war movies can be like.
