Movie Review: 1917

So I just went out to see the much-talked-about WWI movie, 1917. I knew I was in for a gritty, ultra-realistic account of trench warfare in the fields of France, circa 1917, but I have to say I wasn’t fully prepared. This movie was so realistic and so emotionally throttling that, well, I think it’s headed for Best Picture. In one moment death abounds, in the next, the glimmer of flower petals floating down from a destroyed cherry tree contrasts so firmly as to root you in two places at once. This happens throughout the movie and serves to illustrate the vast spectrum of thought that exists between those fighting for their lives and simple, un-adulterated beauty.

I’m not going to post graphic images here (although DO be prepared if you watch the below trailer). Nor will I talk in detail about many of the happenings in the movie as I don’t want to be a spoiler. Just know that you’ll need your full, emotional basket with you as (if you’re a thinking, feeling person) this film will move wildly around in your mind.

Just imagine…you’re running from an enemy soldier under the lights of flares ala Apocalypse Now and to escape you duck into a busted building alcove, only to discover real tenderness. This back and forth polarization makes this film so dramatic and allows the viewer to stay rooted in their own reality, while appreciating the pain and sacrifice of so many.

True today, war is simply horrible. You won’t see me writing about it much on this blog. But when a movie impacts me this much, well, it’s worth talking about. I feel this film is a history lesson. True, it’s just one happening in a long series of endless events….and seemingly endless wars. And here, just a couple of scared soldiers are looking to make a difference. But you’ll come away with your eyes open, with a deeper appreciation for those who have served, and certainly with a firmer stance on what’s truly important in life.