It has been called 'one of the best war films of all time' and is free to watch on BBC iPlayer for a limited time
A gripping and universally praised war film is currently available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer for a limited period. The Oscar and BAFTA-winning picture breathlessly tracks a pair of young British soldiers as they race deep into enemy territory to deliver a message that could call off a catastrophic attack and spare more than a thousand lives.
If that rings a bell, you'll already know the film in question is director Sir Sam Mendes' war epic, 1917 . Appearing to have been shot in a single take, the First World War movie offers a uniquely immersive and pulse-pounding viewing experience, drawing the audience along every step of a treacherous mission through trenches and no man's land.
Though the story unfolds over the course of a single day, 1917 has captivated viewers for the extraordinary way it portrays the brutal reality of warfare. The film opens on April 6, 1917. The Allied forces discover they are being lured into a deadly trap. Aerial reconnaissance has revealed that the German army is making a strategic withdrawal from the Western Front.
Under the mistaken belief that the Germans are retreating, a British battalion scheduled to attack them the following morning will actually be walking into an ambush. With field telephones cut off and no other means of alerting their ill-fated comrades, two young soldiers, Lance Corporals Will Schofield and Tom Blake , are tasked with delivering a vital message.
Under the orders of General Erinmore , the pair must venture into enemy lines to locate the battalion of 1,600 men - including Blake's brother - and halt the assault. The film's cinematography is one of the most striking elements of 1917. Cinematographer Roger Deakins employed cinematic wizardry to make the two-hour war epic appear as though it unfolds in a single take.
The fluid transitions were accomplished using explosions, passing soldiers, and objects that block the camera. The film's lengthiest take is the eight-and-a-half minute opening scene. While the storyline is fictional, it drew inspiration from Mendes' grandfather's wartime tales. The director told Radio 1: 'There was one particular story he told us about carrying a message across no man's land alone at dusk.
I couldn't let go of that one image. I thought: What if we develop that into a single journey of more epic proportions?
' The reception to 1917 was broadly positive. Critics lauded the war epic's immersive quality, gripping narrative, and technical accomplishments. Its Rotten Tomatoes approval score is 88%. The website's critics consensus based on over 400 reviews reads: 'Hard-hitting, immersive, and an impressive technical achievement, 1917 captures the trench warfare of World War I with raw, startling immediacy.
' It scooped Best Film, Best Director and Outstanding British Film at the BAFTAs, alongside Oscars for Best Cinematography, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects. Rolling Stone hailed it 'one of the best war films of all time' while the Observer drew comparisons to a genre classic: 'Every war is hell, no matter when it was fought, but 1917, which is about a war far removed from contemporary reality, turns out to the best war picture since Saving Private Ryan.
' The film resonates with those who typically avoid the genre, noted film critic Candice McMillan: 'Sam Mendes' quiet WWI epic 1917 is a cinematic masterpiece, a near perfect war film that appeals to even those of us who don't particularly enjoy war movies. ' One audience reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes put it simply: 'A masterpiece of cinema.
' However, not everyone's convinced. While 1917 might rank as some viewers' favourite war film, critics have labelled it gimmicky, with one-dimensional characters and storyline. 1917 is available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer for one month.
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