Wikipedia

Blitz (2024 film)

Blitz is a 2024 historical war drama film written, produced and directed by Steve McQueen. The film stars Saoirse Ronan, Harris Dickinson and Elliot Heffernan in his film debut.

Blitz
Release poster
Directed bySteve McQueen
Written bySteve McQueen
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyYorick Le Saux
Edited byPeter Sciberras
Music byHans Zimmer
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • October 9, 2024 (2024-10-09) (BFI)
  • November 1, 2024 (2024-11-01) (United Kingdom and United States)
  • November 22, 2024 (2024-11-22) (Apple TV+)
Running time
120 minutes[2]
Countries
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Blitz had its world premiere as the opening film at the BFI London Film Festival on October 9, 2024, where it received positive reviews for McQueen's direction and screenplay, as well as the cinematography. It is scheduled to be released in select cinemas in the United Kingdom and United States on November 1, 2024, followed by a streaming release on Apple TV+ on November 22, 2024.

Premise

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A defiant young boy goes on an adventure in London during World War II only to find himself in immense peril amidst the Blitz, while his distraught mother searches for him.

Plot

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Nine-year old George lives in London with his mother Rita and grandfather Gerald at the start of WWII. They often have to find underground shelter when the Germans attack the city with bombs. Gerald urges Rita to sent George to the countryside to keep him safe and she reluctantly agrees. After a night of bombings, she puts George on the train with other childeren who are being sent away. George doesn't want to leave her and exclaims that he hates his mother, leaving a distraught Rita behind as he boards the train.

Rita works in a ammunition factory, which is now mainly operated by women. The BBC visits the factory and Rita sings a song for the radio. After she finishes, other working women storm on to the stage and demand that the subwaystations are opened for shelter during the bombings. Two of the instigators are then fired.

George is bullied by two other boys on the train for being half-black, but he defends himself. He decides to jump of the train and return to London. He follows the railway and then jumps on a passing train. Once inside, he discovers three other boys, brothers who do not wish to be separated in the countryside, who also want to return to London. He befriends them and together they climb on the roof on the train to cheer and wave at passersby.

Rita and her friends go out together but she leaves early to go volunteer at a shelter run by a Jewish dwarf named Mickey Davies. She comforts a girl who lost her parents. It is revealed that Rita fell in love with a black man, but after some racist men picked a fight with him, he was arrested and deported.

George and the other boys make it to London but lose each other as they are running away from some guards. He wanders the streets alone at night and is apprehended by a black police officer name Ife. He takes George on his round throught the city. They seek shelter together when the bombalarm goes off and the city is yet again attacked. He promises to return George to his home in the morning and goes back out to finish his round. When George wakes up, it is revealed Ife died during the night while trying to help others. George runs away and meets Jess, a young woman. She promises him food and help to return home but instead delivers him to a gang of robbers. They force George to climb into bombed buildings and collect valuables. When he tries to flee, the leaders strike him. As they are robbing another location, George takes his chance and runs. Jess sees him but allowes him to escape.

In the meantine, Rita is informed that George never arrived on his destination. She leaves her work and sets out to find him. She gets help from Jack, a young officer who is in love with Rita. They go to various places but find no trace of him. When the bombalarm goes of again, the seek shelter with Mickey. George flees into a subwaystation with several other people. While sleeping, he dreams of seeing Ife and the boys he met on the train again. When he wakes up, water is running into the subway. The people inside scramble to leave but find the gates locked. They tell George to swim under - since he is small enough - and find help but he gets stuck under the gate.

When the bomb alarm goes silent, Rita returns home. She finds her father asleep in his bed but when she looks outside she sees more planes coming in.

When the morning comes, it is revealed George managed to crawl under the gate and save the people inside from drowning. He wakes up in the house of a woman who lives in his neighbourhood. She tells him a lot of people are looking for him and that she wil bring him home. When the police arrive for him, he fears they will sent him back to the countryside and flees. He runs home to find it in ruins and his grandfather dead. His mother calls his name and embraces him. She promises to never send him away again.

Cast

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Production

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Development

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In October 2021, it was announced that McQueen would write, direct and produce a new feature film titled Blitz for New Regency, with Lammas Park producing alongside Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner of Working Title Films.[3] In March 2022, McQueen confirmed his next project was going to be about Londoners during the Blitz of World War II and that he had discussed this with Anne, the Princess Royal, as she had awarded him his knighthood at Windsor Castle.[4] In June 2022, it was announced that Apple TV+ had picked up the distribution rights. Producers are New Regency's Arnon Milchan, Yariv Milchan and Michael Schaefer.[5]

Casting

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In September 2022, it was announced that Saoirse Ronan would be heading the cast and Adam Stockhausen leading the production design.[6] In December 2022, Harris Dickinson, Erin Kellyman, Stephen Graham and Kathy Burke were added to the cast, along with singer-songwriter Paul Weller in his feature film acting debut.[7] Later that month, Benjamin Clementine, Leigh Gill, Mica Ricketts, CJ Beckford, Hayley Squires and Sally Messham was announced in additional acting roles.[8]

Filming

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Principal photography began in London in November 2022.[9] Warner Bros. Studios, Leavesden was used as a base.[10] In January 2023, filming took place close to the London Waterloo station. Later that month, special effect crews simulated bombs hitting the water in the River Thames in Wapping. Filming also took place in the London borough of Greenwich.[11] In February 2023, reports were that the production moved to Hull's old town with a filming schedule of two weeks.[12]

Release

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Blitz premiered as the opening film at the BFI London Film Festival held at the Royal Festival Hall on October 9, 2024, McQueen's third directorial effort to do so after 2018's Widows and 2020's Mangrove, which was part of his Small Axe anthology series. The film will then be released in select cinemas in the United States and the United Kingdom on November 1, 2024, before streaming on Apple TV+ on November 22.[13]

Reception

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Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 79% of 42 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.1/10.[14] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 71 out of 100, based on 24 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[15]

Accolades

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Award/Festival Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Montclair Film Festival October 27, 2024 Visionary Director Award Steve McQueen Honored [16][17]
Camerimage November 23, 2024 Special Award for Outstanding Director Won [18][19]
Golden Frog Yorick Le Saux Pending

References

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  1. ^ "Blitz (2024)". BBFC. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  2. ^ "Blitz (12A)". BBFC. October 4, 2024. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  3. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 9, 2021). "Steve McQueen Sets Next Film 'Blitz' At New Regency, Where He Made Oscar-Winner '12 Years A Slave'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 12, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  4. ^ Hennessey, Ted (March 15, 2022). "Sir Steve McQueen discusses new Blitz film at Windsor investiture ceremony". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  5. ^ Kroll, Justin (June 6, 2022). "Apple Lands Steve McQueen's Next Feature Film 'Blitz'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  6. ^ "Saoirse Ronan To Star In Steve McQueen's 'Blitz' For Apple Original Films And New Regency". Deadline Hollywood. September 22, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  7. ^ Kroll, Justin (December 6, 2022). "Harris Dickinson, Elliott Heffernan, Erin Kellyman Among Those Joining Ensemble Of Steve McQueen's 'Blitz' At Apple". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  8. ^ Yossman, K.J. (December 13, 2022). "Steve McQueen's World War 2 Feature 'Blitz' Rounds Out Cast With Benjamin Clementine, Leigh Gill and More (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  9. ^ "Blitz Production List". Film & Television Industry Alliance. October 10, 2022. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  10. ^ "What's On Screen and Filming in London: December 2022". Film London. December 7, 2022. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  11. ^ Doyle, Emma Doyle (January 13, 2023). "Greenwich 'finally gets a London Underground station' after film crew spotted building set for blockbuster movie". MyLondon. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  12. ^ Ingham, Harry (February 6, 2023). "Old Town transformed into Blitz Britain as filming starts for Apple TV". Hull Daily Mail. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  13. ^ Ntim, Zac (July 1, 2024). "Steve McQueen's 'Blitz' To Open London Film Festival As World Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  14. ^ "Blitz". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  15. ^ "Blitz". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  16. ^ Lewis, Hilary (September 19, 2024). Moody, Nekesa Mumbi (ed.). "Montclair Film Festival: Conclave to Open, The Piano Lesson to Close, Unstoppable as Fiction Centerpiece (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. ISSN 0018-3660. OCLC 44653726. Retrieved September 23, 2024. …Montclair Film will honor Nightbitch director Marielle Heller with the festival's Director Award, after a screening of her film about Amy Adams's mother character…
  17. ^ —. "The Montclair Film Festival Announces 2024 Opening, Closing, Centerpiece, Honors, & Creator Spotlight | Montclair Film". montclairfilm.org. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  18. ^ "STEVE McQUEEN TO RECEIVE THE EnergaCAMERIMAGE OUTSTANDING DIRECTOR AWARD – EnergaCAMERIMAGE 2024". camerimage.pl. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  19. ^ "EnergaCAMERIMAGE 2024: BLITZ TO OPEN THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL! – EnergaCAMERIMAGE 2024". camerimage.pl. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
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