Blitz: Written, Directed and Produced by Steve McQueen

***Photo: Apple TV Blitz****

Love, Trust, Loss and the Resilience of Human Strength: 

I recently had an evening watching Blitz, a film directed by Steve McQueen that explores WWII in England. As the poster suggest, the film explores relationship with human souls. After the screening the evening featured a panel discussion with director Steve McQueen, lead actress Saoirse Ronan, and lead actor Elliott Heffernan.

Perhaps this film serves as a needed reminder that nothing matters more than family. It dives into the complexities of human relationships, good and bad characters - thieves and rule followers. The film touches on themes of naivety, trust, hunger, loss and importance of love. 

Grab your tissues before you enter, and admire the bond of family and love amidst the trials of life. The simple touch between a mother and her son will undoubtedly leave you with an emotion to ponder with.  Film is out in theaters on November 2nd. whether you’re going for the intense war drama or just to see how the relationships unfold on screen, it has something for everyone

““...love, trust, loss and the resilience of human strength. “”

Steve McQueen shared that the film was inspired by a photograph he encountered off a frightened young boy with a suitcase. That image stuck with him, and from there, the story evolved. He mentioned that casting Elliott Heffernan as the boy came from a sense of stillness in him, a “presence in his abstinence,” Steve emphasized that this film is ultimately about love.  He also wanted to showcase woman's roll during the war; "they were not merely bystanders but crucial contributors, embodying the second half of the wartime narrative."

Saoirse Ronan shared how her role allowed her to honor her own mother, who had been a nanny in New York. That connection to her mother’s experience grounded her performance in something personal and “wholesome,” she said.

Meanwhile, this was Elliott Heffernan’s first film—he’s only eight! His story is charming. He’d just finished a school play, his teacher encouraged him to act, and then his mother saw an audition posted and the rest is history.

I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to spend an evening engaging directly with the creators of this compelling story.