In the upcoming film “Blitz,” Saoirse Ronan takes on the role of Rita, a mother navigating the harrowing landscape of World War II London as she searches for her missing son, George. The film, directed by Oscar-winner Steve McQueen, is set against the backdrop of the Blitz bombings, showcasing the intense emotional and physical challenges faced by families during this tumultuous period.
A collaboration with Steve McQueen
The actress, 30, is starring in Blitz as Rita, a mother in the upheaval of World War II who lives in London. According to the synopsis, her “epic journey” starts when her son George, who is nine years old, “embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.” Elliott Heffernan plays George.
The next teaser, which debuted on September 18, features George in a military post, witnessing the atrocities of the Axis forces’ bombing raids over London, while Rita desperately looks for him and supports other parents who had sent their kids to safer areas of the United Kingdom throughout the war.
The historical drama, written, directed, and produced by McQueen, 54, will have its world premiere on October 9 as the opening picture of the BFI London Film Festival.For the new picture, the Oscar-winning director of 12 Years a Slave teams up with a number of old partners, including composer Hans Zimmer, costume designer Jacqueline Durran, and production designer Adam Stockhausen.
A whole star-studded cast
In May 2023, McQueen told Variety that directing his epic documentary Occupied City, which focused on the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam, aided him in learning the ins and outs of researching the specifics of living through World War II for Blitz.
He explained, “It was just one of those things where we wanted to get into the specifics.” Was it, for instance, raining? Now, what sort of rain is it? tiny details that, despite their seeming insignificance, have a profound impact on people’s thoughts, behaviors, and reactions. This autumn, Ronan’s highly anticipated drama The Outrun from Sony Pictures Classics will be released.
Alongside Harris Dickinson, Benjamin Clementine, Kathy Burke, Paul Weller, Stephen Graham, Leigh Gill, Mica Ricketts, CJ Beckford, Alex Jennings, Joshua McGuire, Hayley Squires, Erin Kellyman, and Sally Messham on screen in Blitz are the four-time Oscar nominee and her youthful costar Heffernan. Nov. 1, Blitz opens in cinemas, and on Nov. 22, it will stream on Apple TV+.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings