Blitz

"This is a fantastic film that simultaneously serves as a tribute to the city of London and its resilience during the Blitzkrieg of World War II while also telling an emotional story of a young boy trying to reunite with his mom. What particularly struck me here was how a city became a character in the movie, shining a spotlight on certain aspects of history not often discussed or talked about while simultaneously showing the city in all its complexities (showing unexpected kindness and generosity of individuals while also not shying away from the negative aspects either, especially with regards to racism). Phenomenal screenplay and direction by Steve McQueen (who also directed the hard-hitting film 12 YEARS A SLAVE) for his ability to maintain a balance between the two stories, assisted by phenomenal cinematography (the MVP among the technical aspects), score, and production values. None of this would be possible without incredible debut performance by Elliott Heffernan as the young boy and Saoirse Ronan as his mother (their chemistry is so believable too). Even the minor roles make an impression here too (Stephen Graham’s cameo was memorable). Top 10 film of the year for me. This is definitely worth a watch IMO. Side note: This film belongs in a list of great films exploring parent-child relationships IMO."

"Not top 10"