Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen explores war's brutal carnage, vile societal racism, and the desperate search for a lost child during Britain's darkest days in World War II. Blitz takes place in 1940 London as Nazi Germany's "blitzkrieg" attempts to bomb the country into submission with a relentless and indiscriminate aerial attack. It takes an all-encompassing view of the frantic fight for survival but shines a spotlight on a subject rarely addressed in cinema. Black and biracial people are almost never seen, or at best tokenized, in European war films. McQueen gives the underrepresented their due with sobering realism.
A Mother & Son Separated by the Blitz
During the London Blitz of World War II, a diverse group of Londoners navigates the chaos and destruction of the German bombardment. Their intertwined stories of survival, resilience, and camaraderie capture the spirit of a city under siege.
- Release Date
- November 1, 2024
- Cast
- Elliott Heffernan , Saoirse Ronan , Paul Weller , Harris Dickinson , Benjamin Clementine , Kathy Burke , Stephen Graham , Leigh Gill , Mica Ricketts , CJ Beckford , Alex Jennings , Joshua McGuire , Hayley Squires , Erin Kellyman , Sally Messham
- Streaming Service(s)
- Saoirse Ronan is reliably great and Elliott Hefferman stuns in his debut film.
- McQueen's direction is a polished as ever and he successfully weaves social commentary into his historical drama.
- Blitz is uneven between its exhilarating scenes and its slow, mundane ones, and loses track of its characters.
Blitz drops you headfirst into the narrative with a fire raging out of control. Terrified civilians race towards the shuttered entrance of a tube (London Underground) stop. Tempers flare as the constables refuse to open the gates. Common sense takes hold as air raid sirens pierce the night sky with the howl of incoming doom. Everyone races inside screaming as the gate opens. Explosions are heard nearby as the surrounding neighborhood is decimated.
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Later, Rita (Saoirse Ronan) lies in bed looking tenderly at George (Elliott Heffernan), her precious nine-year-old son. Her blonde hair, white skin, and green eyes contrast his olive complexion and curly black locks. Gerald (Paul Weller), Rita's father and George's beloved grandpa, has made breakfast. The radio blares in the background with news of the previous night's death toll. Gerald speaks frankly to Rita alone when George gets dressed. George must be immediately evacuated to the countryside with the other children. His life is in danger if he stays with them.
George is furious at Rita when she starts packing his clothes. She's absolutely torn inside but puts on a brave face. George pouts as Rita takes him to get registered for the next train. He refuses to speak when she places a numbered lanyard around his neck. George screams "I hate you" before running onto the train. A heartbroken Rita pounds the glass to get his attention, but he never looks towards her. The racist bullying begins almost immediately. George angrily defends himself, but has already had enough. He's getting off the train at the first chance and going home.
The Nazis Weren't the Only Racists
Blitz follows George and Rita as they navigate different obstacles in a time of crisis. McQueen (Shame, 12 Years a Slave, Widows) takes a page from Charles Dickens' classic Oliver Twist, with George quickly losing his childhood innocence. His journey back to Rita is fraught with peril and ugly developments. George encounters a variety of adult strangers. He learns the hard way that not everyone has the best intentions. Some sense an opportunity, while others are selfless. McQueen never shies away from human cruelty and compassion.
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Rita works with other women in a munitions factory. Everyone shares a genuine camaraderie as poor people doing their part for the war effort. Rita doesn't lose sight of her femininity while covered in grease and working a machine press. She wears red lipstick, curls her hair, and tries to be social with her friends. McQueen periodically flashes back to the romance that led to George's birth. Rita was vibrant and deeply in love. She now puts up with snickers and snide remarks about having a Black child, but Rita is never ashamed or embarrassed. George is her entire world. McQueen makes it clear that racism was rampant despite everyone being under the Nazi gun.
Blitz's second act cranks up the tension once Rita realizes George never arrived at his destination. Every parent would be despondent to learn their child was missing. Factor in the Nazi slaughter and an additional terrifying component exponentially amplifies Rita's fears. Ronan, one of her generation's best actresses, becomes the embodiment of determination and regret. She'll do anything to find George, but is also wracked with gnawing guilt over letting him go.
Elliott Heffernan Is Superb in an Uneven Film
Heffernan is superb in his feature film debut. George is a reflection of his mother and grandfather. He's courageous in harrowing situations. George learns to accept his Blackness in a literal trial by fire. He sees people who look like him making a difference while being judged unfairly and subjugated because of their skin color. George comes to terms with his racial identity through powerfully moving interactions.
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The film's pacing becomes problematic despite a manageable two-hour runtime. There's a roller-coaster feeling to the highs and lows. You're glued to the screen when George runs and hides from various incidents, but oddly bored when he meanders about. McQueen never explains the actual distance he travels to get back. Those familiar with London's geography won't have this issue, but others will be mystified. There are also quite a few supporting characters who simply vanish. They make strong impressions and then are never seen again. McQueen may be referring to war's fleeting intimacy, where people share intense trauma together and then disappear from each other's lives, but that's not clearly stated. Blitz does suffer from uneven qualities.
McQueen makes a statement about the value of community by showing British courage and resiliency on multiple fronts. Bigots don't overshadow Blitz's kindness and generosity under extreme duress. A bomb doesn't differentiate between class, creed, or color. Neighbors helped each other in the Battle of Britain. Many people made the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good, and the story of Rita and George is an emotional microcosm of that.
Blitz is a production of Apple Studios, Regency Enterprises, New Regency, and Working Title Films et al. It will have a limited theatrical release on November 1st, followed by an Apple TV+ streaming premiere on November 22nd.
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