Steve McQueen's Blitz follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a 9-year-old boy in World War II London whose mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside. George, defiant and determined to return home to his mother and his grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.
The Garden Cinema View:
Blitz is not McQueen's most boundary pushing or experimental film. In fact, its classical approach has caught some reviewers off guard with its morally binary characters, straightforward anti-racist messaging, and mainstream approach to editing and sound design. However, the film's depth lies beyond these elements.
What truly elevates Blitz is its meticulous attention to historical detail, which is reflected by the outstanding production design. In this case, the extensive research seems to have shaped the final outcome, rather than simply serving as decoration or background. This approach uncovers lesser-portrayed details of 1940s London, such as the use of tube stations as bomb shelters, the vibrant nightlife during the raids, the looting of bombarded places and - crucially - the racial divisions within the shelters.
Following a mixed-race boy (brilliantly portrayed by Elliott Heffernan) who escapes from a children's deportation train, and embarks on a journey of discovery that blends these unknown facts into a rich tale of survival and adventure. The film's sheer ambition is displayed in lengthy, colourful, and glamorous sequences reminiscent of classic Hollywood, and which transform what could have been a dull historical account into an almost immersive, cinematic experience.
