Synopsis
What is 1917 about?
Plot Outline
Set over a single day, two soldiers race against time in WWI France. They navigate trenches and danger to complete a mission that could change thousands of lives.
Key Facts
- Director: Sam Mendes
- Screenplay by: Sam Mendes & Krysty Wilson‑Cairns
- Adapted from: Inspired by stories from Mendes’s grandfather
- Sir Sam Mendes (director) and Lee Smith (editor) stated that, despite the apparently continuous shot (broken only by one interval of unconsciousness), actually dozens of "invisible" edits were made, concealed by transitions through black, moves behind objects, and so on. According to Mendes, the shortest unbroken shot was 39 seconds long, while the longest single continuous shot was 8-1/2 minutes long.
- Inspired by Sir Sam Mendes' grandfather's experiences in WWI: "The Autobiography of Alfred H. Mendes 1897--1991."
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about 1917
A high angle shot positions the camera (and therefore the audience) literally and figuratively above the subject.
A high angle shot positions the camera (and therefore the audience) literally and figuratively above the subject.
A high angle shot can convey a range of meanings depending on the context of the scene. If a character is feeling inferior or vulnerable, or if they are beaming with happiness, a high angle shot can help accentuate those characteristics and emotions.
Since the camera informs the audience's perspective, and the camera is positioned above the subject, the overall effect tends to put the subject at a disadvantage, or to make them seem less powerful.
On the other hand, if a character is looking up at something with awe and wonder, we still might consider them to be smaller or less powerful but in a more positive connotation.
Since the camera informs the audience's perspective, and the camera is positioned above the subject, the overall effect tends to put the subject at a disadvantage, or to make them seem less powerful.
On the other hand, if a character is looking up at something with awe and wonder, we still might consider them to be smaller or less powerful but in a more positive connotation.
Scene Excerpt
A notable scene from the script
In the scene below, the Wachowskis included many purposeful high angle shots. Click the shot list below, to see the full scene broken down, and ask yourself what each high angle shot communicates to a viewer.
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