‘1917’- A Directorial Masterclass by Sam Mendes

Introduction

Sam Mendes has made a reputable name for himself ever since his Oscar-winning debut with American Beauty (1999). He has since directed multiple critically acclaimed movies such as Road to Perdition (2002), Revolutionary Road (2008), and the James Bond franchise starring Daniel Craig, including hits such as Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015).

With ‘1917’ (2019), he takes on a challenging screenplay and brings the tension and anxiety surrounding the first World War onto the screen in this epic war drama with meticulous production, and smart camerawork with minimal editing.

 
Why ‘1917’ is different from other war films?

Director Sam Mendes gives absolutely everything in this project with contributions as the co-writer, and the producer for the film, alongside its direction. With the assistance of ‘Cinematography Guru’ Roger Deakins, Mendes reaffirms his long partnership with him to deliver a visual spectacle that earned the film an Oscar nomination for ‘Best Direction’, winning awards in ‘Best Cinematography’, ‘Best Visual Affects’ and ‘Best Sound-Mixing’ all enthralling the tension on the screen. ‘1917’ takes an unconventional approach with a continuous direction methodology with long takes for action set-pieces, as opposed to breaking it down scene by scene, and uses ‘invisible’ cuts to keep the momentum going as a passenger to the journey, rather than a spectator. It is not a documentation of the events of the past on the big screen, but an inexplicable visual account of experience focused on delivering ‘one single mission’ in a race against time as it imitates the random chaos of the war.

 

Variety of Shots in ‘1917’ and their analysis 

Long Shot: This particular shot is a wide-angle shot and the full body figures of the two characters are visible here along with their body movements and body language which indicate that they are on guard and trying to be careful here. A subtle description of the environment is also present despite not being in focus.

Purpose of the shot: This shot reflects the grim reality of the war as portrayed by the environment. All the elements in the background of this shot indicate that of a former battlefield and how ended up leaving a mark on a place. The bodies of the dead soldiers are lying on the ground as two characters (Lance Corporal William and Lance Corporal Tom) are moving. They are careful of the potential landmines that still exist in that place and are on alert, yet they don’t have time to react to the horrors (the lying dead soldiers) that took place on this battlefield and keep going forward.

Very Long Shot: This particular shot is taken from a wide angle in order to provide details of the exterior location. While the shot may have much more information in the environment, the characters (Lance Corporal William on the left and Lance Corporal Tom Blake on the right) in the shot are clearly visible due to their shown movement (aiming and pointing rifle) which makes them easier to be in focus at a static environment.

Purpose of the Shot: This shot lays stress on the dangers of the war and emphasizes the fact that one must stay vigilant at all times in order to survive the battlefield. The two characters in the shot aka. Lance Corporal William Schofield and his friend Lance Corporal Tom Blake are on their way to deliver the new command orders to Colonel Mackenzie of the Second Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment calling off a scheduled attack after receiving new intel that it’s a German trap. This shot is significant as it highlights the ‘carefulness’ and the ongoing ‘tension’ on the battlefield.  Both are well aware of the fact that they have crossed the ‘no man’s land’ into the abandoned German trenches, yet still, they are taking their time to investigate the area before moving forward.

 

Medium Shot: In this particular shot, the upper body to the waist area of the two characters (Lance Corporal William holding his friend Tom Blake) is visible. The range of emotions experienced by William seeing his friend Tom die right in his arms are distinct in nature. Along with it, the scene provides a detailed description of his appearance (ragged arm sleeves and his ‘bloody hands’). His hand gestures indicate him trying to stop Tom’s bleeding which explains the distressed look on his face. The burning wood in the background gives us hindsight about what factors led to their current state. The background is not in focus, but they complement well with the scene.

Purpose of the Shot: The main motive behind this particular shot was to reflect upon how unfair life can be in war. Lance Corporal Tom Blake is breathing his last breath as he assigns his friend William his last task of completing the mission and saving his brother. He also makes William promise to write to his mother. Lance Corporal William is left frustrated in this scene in complete horror because he believes his friend could have been saved if he didn’t try to help the German soldier who would end up backstabbing him. His frustration does not end there, he soon realizes that there are German planes nearby which meant that there was nothing he could do to help his friend since he has to avoid being spotted. He has to endure the pain of losing his comrade while continuing on his journey and keeping his promise.

Medium Long Shot: In this particular shot, the upper part of the body of the two characters (Lance Corporal William on the left and French woman on the right) is visible along with the upper knee area. The main motive behind this was to make the two characters on the screen prominent. This fits well with the context of the movie as the gestures and body movements of the two are clearly visible making the action (handing over the milk retainer) subtle and precise.

Purpose of the Shot: The essence of this shot was to bring forth a different narrative of war, one which focuses on others being caught up in action (besides soldiers). Lance Corporal William evades a German soldier and ends up discovering a French woman who is hiding with an infant in the same place as him. For William, it was difficult to trust another foreigner after his friend ended up dying trying to save a German from a plane crash who ended up stabbing him resulting in his death. Even so, the French woman assured his inner doubts when she treated his wounds. Lance Corporal William though exhausted from his journey, also didn’t have any second thoughts before giving away his canned foods and milk retainer for her baby. This segment of the movie explores the more human part of the war, and this particular shot captures it perfectly.

 

 

Medium Close-Up Shot: In this shot, the upper body of the character (Lance Corporal William) is visible in the button area of the coat. There is also a special focus on his face giving a hint of his thought process and the mixed emotions he is experiencing at that moment.

Purpose of the Shot: This shot is dedicated to showcasing the mental dilemma Lance Corporal William is going through at that very moment. He arrives just in time to deliver the command orders from the HQ, but he couldn’t find Colonel Mackenzie, who is the only one to have the authority to stop the attack. The tension adds up the shot when Lance Corporal William realizes that the first wave of British soldiers is on standby to attack in a few minutes and the attack is not going to stop unless Colonel Mackenzie orders. This complication is hard for Lance Corporal William to process, which explains why he has a look of shock on his face. 

Close-Up Shot: This particular shot focuses on Lance Corporal Williams’s face and the range of emotions he is experiencing. It is a shot taken from the height of their shoulders and lays special emphasis on his facial expression and body language.

Purpose of the Shot: This shot marked the end of his terrifying journey to reach Colonel Mackenzie of the Second Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment, informing the new command orders leading to calling off the attack. The sun shining over his face signifies that he can finally rest easy after a chaotic and distressed series of events, while the tree on which he is resting symbolizes the temporary peace and the sudden realization that he will live to fight another day. In this shot, even though he is exhausted, he is recollecting the memories of his family after narrowly escaping death. In the end, he was not only able to stop a ‘full-scale massacre’ of his war comrades, but also save the life of his friend’s brother whom he couldn’t save while delivering the command orders.

 

Conclusion

The success story of Bong Joon-Ho’s ‘Parasite’ in 2019 overshadowed the admirable ‘1917’ at the Oscars but despite that, there is no denying the vast technical skillset showcased in making the film that made a remarkable contribution to the ‘war genre’. It is the visual elements where the film shines, and it cleverly disposes of the need for character development through the story, but rather explains itself via overcoming the challenges on the screen whether it be psychological or physical in subtlety, which leads towards the grand resolve or ultimatum that make the final act ‘glorious’ in a bittersweet sense. The takeaway is, Sam Mendes certainly has interesting skills under his sleeve.