Steve McQueen's war drama film Blitz is based on a true story exploring incidents from the Blitz (1940-41) when Nazi German air forces raided the United Kingdom continuously for nine months at the time of World War II. The movie had its premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2024 and later had a selected theatrical release in the United Kingdom and the United States in early November.
The story revolves around the lives of a single mother and factory worker, Rita (played by Saoirse Ronan), and her nine-year-old son, George (Elliott Heffernan), amidst the tension of the Blitz in London. Principal photography of Blitz commenced in London in 2022 and continued till early 2023.
With elements of war, drama, and tragedy, the movie has already reached out to the audience. There has reportedly been much speculation on how Blitz is closely adapted from the tumultuous situation of the 40s. The official synopsis of the movie reads:
"The stories of a group of Londoners during the German bombing campaign of the British capital during World War II."
Is Blitz based on a true story?
Blitz has been adapted from the events of the Blitz when Nazi Germany carried out air raids on England during World War II. At the story's center is a single mother, Rita, who works in a factory in London.
When the bombings start, she tries to evacuate her son George to the countryside. Amidst the tumult, George escapes from a train and gets separated from his mother. He then tries to find his way back as London suffers under the deadly attacks by the Germans.
The movie also reportedly explores flashbacks of Rita's love story with her husband. Director McQueen has worked for some time as a war artist in Iraq. He reportedly said in a statement:
"After really experiencing actual war, which most of us are fortunate not to, I wanted to bring war home in some way, because I thought there was a numbness to people’s understanding of what war is."
As per McQueen, the movie gave him a chance to acknowledge the good work of all the unsung heroes from diverse communities during the London bombings. He further added:
"I knew I’d be asked about how historically accurate the film was, especially as I was putting a person of color within this context,” he says. “But the real question is, ‘Why are these people not in these historical images when they were there and helping?’ That was a choice that was made."
What more do we know about the background story of Blitz?
The German Air Force started bombing different parts of London on September 7, 1940, and it went on till May 11, 1941. It led to the death of almost 43,000 people, and thousands were left homeless. The deadly attack was later given the name 'The Blitz.'
Large industrial areas of England were targeted. Famous buildings like Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, and the Tower of London were also bombed. Many parts of the city had to be rebuilt from scratch. Later, the German troops marched towards the Soviet Union, and the Blitz eventually ended.
How to watch the movie Blitz?
Blitz is now available to stream on Apple TV+. The movie had its earlier screenings at the BFI London Film Festival and was later released in limited theatres across the United Kingdom and the United States.
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