Saoirse Ronan Says There ‘Wasn’t Really an Escape’ From WWII Drama ‘Blitz’ While Filming: ‘You’d Put on the News and See Exactly the Same Thing’

As a film enthusiast with a profound appreciation for the power of cinema to reflect and shape our collective consciousness, I find Saoirse Ronan‘s experience during the making of “Blitz” both harrowing and enlightening. Her words resonate deeply, not just as an actor, but as a human being living in these tumultuous times.


At a BFI London Film Festival press conference, Saoirse Ronan expressed the significance of Steve McQueen’s World War II drama “Blitz” amidst the intensifying global conflicts, stating that this was the first time she couldn’t find a way to step away from a project.

What truly brought this filming process to life was capturing scenes filled with utter chaos and turmoil, only to portray characters in extreme terror and despair. Yet, when we stepped off set, the radio would blast the same chaotic sounds, and the news would show the same disturbing images. This was the first project where I couldn’t find a way to escape the reality of it all,” she explained.

Ronan expressed her thanks for the opportunity she had, but wondered if it might be inappropriate to do so.

She commented, “I believe it significantly fueled your determination to persist with the image since, although I dislike using the term, it seems strikingly applicable.” She continued, “For some reason, we’ve yet to escape this pattern. Thus, it certainly felt very tangible.

In this historical drama, Ronan plays Rita, a worried mother who desperately looks for her 9-year-old son George (first-timer Elliott Heffernan). Sending him away from London to the countryside during the Blitz, she becomes frantic when he goes missing. Alongside Ronan, the cast features Harris Dickinson, Erin Kellyman, Stephen Graham, Kathy Burke, Paul Weller, Leigh Gill, and Benjamin Clementine.

McQueen, in his latest venture, penned, helmed, and financed “Blitz,” his first full-length movie since the 2018 release of “Widows.” This filmmaker from the UK is widely recognized for his work on the 2014 production “12 Years a Slave,” a project that received the Oscar for Best Picture and also earned him a nomination for Best Director.

The action-packed film “Blitz” makes its debut on Wednesday as the opening night spectacle for this year’s BFI London Film Festival. In a statement released about its screening at the event, director McQueen explained: “‘Blitz’ is a movie that embodies Londoners. It pays tribute to the resilience of Londoners during the Blitz, but also delves into the authentic depiction of people in London, with the central narrative revolving around a working-class family yearning for unity amidst war.

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2024-10-09 15:16