A riveting saga

Navnee Likhi

Deftly paced, 1917 is striking in the recreation of time and place of World War 1. Written and directed by English filmmaker Sam Mendes, the film is, in part, based on an account told to him by his paternal grandfather Alfred Mendes, who as a teenager had fought during World War I. The film chronicles the story of two young British soldiers, Will Schofield and Tom Blake. The two are commissioned to hand-deliver a message within six hours to 2nd battalion of the Devonshire Regiment to call off their attack on German forces. The forces had feigned retreat to the Hinderburg line, known as Operation Alberich, and were preparing to slaughter the battalion of 1,600 British soldiers. The two men are a miniscule part of an enormous tragedy, leaving behind their individual stories of courage and sacrifice of their lives.

The film opens in the spring of 1917 in northern France. Schofield and Blake are resting under a tree when a commanding officer orders Blake to opt a soldier of his choice and bring him along. Blake enlists Schofield. Blake’s elder brother is part of the 2nd battalion. Explaining the mission to the two young men, General Erinmore tells them that the life of 1,600 British soldiers was in their hands. The message needed to be hand delivered since the Germans had cut off all communication lines.

Both men embark on a daunting journey by foot to reach 2nd battalion. Lieutenant Leslie gives them orders to cross. He thinks it’s an insane idea but at the same time gives them instructions and briefs them on how to get through the German lines using maps, concealed lights, proper weapons, hand knives, etc. The trenches are booby-trapped and Blake saves Schofield from being nearly killed. They climb out of the trenches and head on a perilous journey in a land piled with mud, corpses of men and horses.

During this journey, the two men get to know each other. 19-year-old Blake is witty, chatty and good at reading maps. He is starry-eyed about glory in battlefield and aspires to win a medal some day.

Schofield, a few years elder to him, is reserved, stoic and cynical. He mocks at Blake and tells him that he won a medal but traded it with a bottle of wine. As they reach a recently abandoned, empty German trench, they both go underground and find German barracks with rats crawling all around. Both survive an explosion which partly buries them under the debris. Blake rescues Schofield and they flee before the barracks collapse. As their journey continues, they halt at an abandoned farm house from where they witness a dog fight. Soon a German plane crashes into the farm. Schofield and Blake try to save the downed pilot. The preceding scenes change their game.

The camera work and the mechanics used remain in sync with the actors. The film has been shot in endless exteriors, with no repetition of locations. The camera continuously moves through landscapes, mostly shot in clouded light and weather. The film never loses sight of the smallest and most intimate details. The film has a raw immediacy which reveals the calculated construct beneath.

Cinematography by Roger Deakins is excellent which is complimented by Lee Smith’s editing. The background score by Thomas Newman is pulsating. Dean Charles-Chapman as Tom Blake and George Mac kay as Will Schofield are thoroughly engaging in their performances.