1917 is astonishing!!! I still do not know how director Sam Mendes and his team filmed this movie. The entire film appears to take place in only two continuous shots. Therefore, this movie is making cinematic history and should be watched by everyone simply for its excellence in filmmaking. This movie should win Best Movie. Simply amazing!
In a tribute to Mendes’ family who participated in the World War I conflict, this movie follows Lance Corporal Blake, played by Dean-Charles Chapman, and Lance Corporal Schofield, played by George MacKay, attempting to deliver a message to frontline troops telling them they are about to enter an ambush.
This movie is intense, stunning, violent, compelling, and emotionally exhausting. I cannot recommend it enough. Just be prepared, this is a modern war movie. So it has the language, dead bodies, and tenseness. Just be realistic about the genre.
The following are 14 Leadership Lessons From 1917 The Movie:
- If You Want To Go Fast, Travel Alone. If You Want To Go Far, You Need A Team – Blake and Schofield were told, “He who travels the fastest travels alone.”
- People Who Are Personally Invested In The Project Accomplish More Than People Who Are Not – Schofield told Blake, “I say we can’t.” To which he replied, “You would. It’s not your brother.”
- A Person With Purpose Is Hard To Stop – Schofield continued, “If we are not clever, no one will get to your brother.” To which Blake replied, “I will.”
- Focus On Your Goal. Not What’s Going On Around You. – As Blake and Schofield began their mission, they encountered deceased individuals, dead horses, barbed wire, horrific ground conditions, burning buildings, and much, much more. They continually stay focused on marching forward to their desired objective.
- When You Can’t See Hold Onto A Friend – Schofield was temporary blinded by an explosion. What allowed him to continue forward was holding onto Blake. This is a lesson to all leaders. When times get tough, hold onto your friends.
- Movement Is Life. Passivity Kills. – Throughout the movie, Schofield avoided death from gunfire and bombing by continually staying in motion.
- Don’t Make A Lifetime Decision Because Of A Momentary Benefit – Schofield traded his bravery medal for a bottle of wine because he was thirsty.
- Leaders Must Have Tough Conversations – After being injured, Blake asked Schofield, “Am I dying?” To which Schofield replied, “Yes. Yes, you are.”
- On Your Death Bed Most People Think Of Their Family – Blake’s final words were, “Will you write my mom for me?.. (Tell them) I love them.”
- Teamwork Makes The Dreamwork – Smart leaders know you accomplish more together than you can alone. When a truck traveling with a number of soldiers got stuck in mud, it took a number of soldiers to get the truck out of the mud. If you are stuck as a leader, you will need a team to help get you out and move forward.
- A Leader Is Known By Their Motives – When presenting the orders to Colonel MacKenzie, Lance Corporals Blake and Schofield were warned, “Some men just want to fight… Make sure you get a witness.”
- A Culture Of Death – Some people are just more comfortable in chaos, crisis, and death than in peaceful environments. The individual soldiers’ level of comfort walking around and crawling over dead bodies is stunning. They were simply comfortable being around death.
- Colonel MacKenzie said, “Hope is a dangerous thing.”
- Colonel MacKenzie added, “There is only one way this war ends – Last Man Standing.”
Once again, 1917 is a triumph in filmmaking. Go see it and be amazed!
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