Blitz tells the tale of a group of Londoners navigating life during the bombings of World War II in the 1940s. Written and directed by Steve McQueen, the film opened with a fiery inferno right from its opening scene. Firefighters desperately try to put out the blaze that engulfs a row of houses, one of them is hurt when the hose goes haywire. It’s a powerful way to help us feel the impact of the Nazis’ brutal bombing raids across different areas of the UK.

McQueen presents the horrors of war through the eyes of a single mom, Rita (Saoirse Ronan) who lives with her biracial son George (Elliott Heffernan, in his first ever acting role) and her retired dad (musician Paul Weller, also making his feature film debut). Like many London-based parents concerned for their kids’ safety, Rita opts to send George to school in the countryside. Naturally, George is resentful and soon he leaps off the slow-moving train to return back to London. Being a mixed-race boy naturally adds an extra complexity to George who never really knew his black father. We get a brief flashback scene of Rita and Marcus (CJ Beckford) out dancing at a club before he gets arrested after defending himself from racist men.

While WWII stories are popular subjects in films and TV, what sets Blitz apart is that it highlights the harsh truths of social divides, racism, and how the working class had to struggle on their own during this harrowing time. I didn’t know that regular working-class folks in London were denied the chance to take refuge in the tube stations. The film takes turns alternating between George’s journey to get home and Rita’s search for him, so we get to see the dire situations through two very different lenses.

Rita’s life without George is mostly set in the munitions factory where she works with other women. Not only is Ronan one of the greatest actresses of this generation, but I can add her to a list of great actors who can sing. Her rendition of the beautiful Winter’s Coat song (written by McQueen and Nicholas Britell) is gorgeous, I’m not surprised if it turns up as a Best Original Song contender. She finds camaraderie with fellow female workers who seize her singing opportunity to fight for women’s liberation. Meanwhile, George finds kindness and friendship when he meets an air raid warden of Nigerian descent named Ife (Benjamin Clementine), the first black immigrant he knows in a position of power. As George sees Ife resolve conflicts with impressive wisdom and gentleness, he feels a deep pride in his black identity. Too bad the way it all unfolds feels a little too on the nose and clichéd.

I really appreciate McQueen for shining a light on the important contributions women made during the war and for addressing the racism faced by people of color, which often gets overlooked in WWII stories. That said, I’m a bit let down by the dialogue; I was really hoping for something more daring and edgy from McQueen. Blitz is overstuffed with a ton of competing elements; it’s not just about working-class people struggling to get by during the war. It also dives into themes like racial prejudice, female empowerment, mothers and son dynamics, as well as a Dickensian coming-of-age story when George runs into a gang of thieves run by Albert (Stephen Graham) who are exploiting the mayhem of the Blitz. It detracts from the emotional connection we feel for Rita and George as they desperately try to reunite in a war-torn city.

The film’s tone feels a bit all over the place, some moments hit the mark but there are more that miss the mark for me. It’s not a good sign when you start thinking about other (better) films as you’re watching a particular film. The scenes of people sheltering in London’s tube stations make me think of Atonement and seeing the talented George MacKay wasted here makes me think of how good he was in the powerful war film 1917. The Café de Paris nightclub being looted after it was bombed is eerily reminiscent of Titanic as the dead people look as if they’re frozen in time. That said, the contrast between the before and after the bomb is quite striking. McQueen shows the vibrancy of a club where Black musicians perform for white partygoers then cuts to the Luftwaffe dropping bombs from the sky.

I applaud the exquisite production design by Adam Stockhausen and the costume work by Jacqueline Durran in Blitz‘s authentic world-building. DP Yorick Le Saux does a fantastic job showcasing various areas of the city before and after the bomb, and some of those night shots are absolutely stunning. Hans Zimmer provides the despondent score, though I don’t find the music as memorable as his plethora of films, including another WWII film by Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk.

Overall, I don’t quite connect with the characters, which renders the experience emotionally underwhelming. Even the finale that’s supposed to be a tear-jerker fails to tug at my heartstrings. While it’s impeccably crafted and acted, the overstuffed narrative leaves me wanting more.

Have you seen BLITZ? I’d love to hear what you think!

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