1917 Movie Ending Explained: What It Really Means

  • 📰 screenrant
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 106 sec. here
  • 3 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 46%
  • Publisher: 94%

Entertainment Entertainment Headlines News

Entertainment Entertainment Latest News,Entertainment Entertainment Headlines

George MacKay smirking as Will Schofield and Benedict Cumberbatch scowling as Colonel Mackenzie in 1917 (2019)

Summary SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT Sam Mendes' 1917 has a relatively straightforward story for much of its runtime - but the ending of the film is more complex than some might think. Mendes' film is an immersive, thrilling war epic, with 1917's single-take filmmaking style drawing audiences into the film on a deeper level. Although the film looks like one take, 1917's secret cuts are expertly hidden.

Schofield races his way through the ranks of soldiers, pushing and shoving through the trenches, with 1917's secret cuts being perfectly employed throughout. He asks several soldiers where he can find Colonel Mackenzie, to which they keep pointing him further and further down the trench line. As the attack commences, Schofield realizes he must leave the relative safety of the trenches and sprint across the battlefield in order to have any chance of finding Mackenzie in time.

In an earlier scene, Schofield and Blake discuss their recent leave. In one of the few moments of emotional clarity from Schofield, he mentions that he hated his leave because he would eventually have to return to the battlefield and put his life in danger once more. This moment is made much more complex upon the reveal of Schofield's family.

Perhaps most importantly, the reveal of Schofield's family heightens the overall stakes of 1917's central mission. Viewers understand Blake's motivations from 1917's outset: he wants to save his brother and will stop at nothing to do so. Schofield seems more hesitant throughout, and after he nearly dies due to the tripwire in the German bunker, he wants to turn back. Knowing he had a family back home, this makes much more sense.

The opening scene reflects this, as the characters are blissfully unaware of their mission. Shortly before the climax, a group of soldiers are shown scattered among a tree-laden field, listening to a comrade sing 1917's Wayfaring Stranger song. Finally, the final scene features a similar shot of Schofield against the tree once the attack is called off and hundreds of lives have been saved.

As evidenced by Wilson-Cairns' comments, the choice to leave Schofield's family until the end of the film links purely to realism. In the midst of a war with soldiers Schofield has spent many months or years with, it is unlikely to come up in conversation. More realistically, Schofield thought about his family in a quiet moment after his mission, as any normal person would do.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.
We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 7. in ENTERTAİNMENT

Entertainment Entertainment Latest News, Entertainment Entertainment Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

The Garfield Movie Ending ExplainedAngel Shaw is a Core Features Senior Writer with Screen Rant who knows far too much about the worlds of Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings.
Source: screenrant - 🏆 7. / 94 Read more »

The Godfather Part II Ending Explained: What The Movie's Final Shot MeansVito, Michael, and Fredo from The Godfather Header Image
Source: screenrant - 🏆 7. / 94 Read more »

Mr. & Mrs. Smith Movie Ending ExplainedJane (Angelina Jolie) and John (Brad Pitt) watch their burning home on Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Source: screenrant - 🏆 7. / 94 Read more »

‘Guy Ritchie’s The Covenant’ Ending Explained — How Does the War Movie End?Jake Gyllenhaal as Kinley and Dar Salim as Ahmed in Guy Ritchie&39;s The Covenant 
Source: Collider - 🏆 1. / 98 Read more »