Travel back to 1917 in a featurette for Sam Mendes’ WWI film

After a pulse-pounding trailer, the newly-released mini-doc for Sam Mendes’ upcoming World War I film 1917 highlights its high-wire war story while keying us in on some technical talk. The film is apparently being edited to give the illusion of a single, continuous take. Did you know that? I sure didn’t.

Starring George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman as a pair of British soldiers embarking on a critical mission behind enemy lines, 1917 is looking to be an immersive, visceral war story, both intimate in its emotions and epic in its implications. The featurette further hammers this home, with a glimpse at the technical approach to shooting the grimy war story.

Legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins (Blade Runner 2049, No Country for Old Men) is none other than to take up the task for Mendes. The two have worked together several times to great effect, most-recently on Skyfall in 2012.

Challenges to the production would include reliance on natural light, given the tricky, exterior-heavy locations and chronological shooting schedule. 

The rigors of production will no doubt yield a memorable story, with Mark Strong, Colin Firth, and Benedict Cumberbatch also featured in the English escapades of frontline trench warfare. 1917 is set to release Christmas Day, December 25th, this year.