In this outing of Steve McQueen's talent, the Bombings of London by the Germans in September 1940 is only a backdrop, a stage for a Dickensian telling of a multiracial family story. Each part is beautifully and expertly shown, yes it's a great film, very well done, and walking away after the end credits I was not sure what I watched. The story and feel of the Blitz? The story of a boy searching for his mother through German bombs in a journey eerily reminiscent of Oliver Twist, including a Fagin type? Or, The story of a boy of an English mother and Caribbean father who experiences racism?
McQueen gave us a film that is all three-in-one. Masterfully done, if only too ambitious. Somewhere between the lines I lost the thread of which of the three stories I am to prioritize. Perhaps that is exactly the point. Not confusion, but plurality -just like real life.
I lived for years in London, only 30 years after the events in the film and East-Londoners seemed to me accurately depicted in the film, both the racists and those who did not care about skin color.
I have read reviews here that complain about "preaching" against racism, in the film. Well, back in 1980 I met one of my idols, French Director Claude Lelouch, who told me the duty of an artist and a filmmaker is to not let people forget what war is. I suppose we mustn't forget what racism is either, so I will not join the camp of critics who complain about McQueen's message.
The acting is top tier, especially by first timer Elliott Hefferman as George.
Most of the CGI is well done if, at times, a little too video-game-ish. Especially the scene of the German bomb chasing us all the way down while we are skydiving on our backs looking up at it a few feet above us, made me feel like Wile E. Coyote searching for my Acme Parachute.
It's a film worth watching, with a bottle of Sam Smith's if you know what that is and you can find it, but I would be remiss if I didn't admit I was hoping my emotions meter would move, and it didn't. Well maybe it did once or twice but the needle didn't reach anywhere near the red.
