For British-based film lovers up and down the United Kingdom, the opening night of the London Film Festival is one of the most note-worthy and eye-catching nights of the year.
The London Film Festival is known for premiering some of the highest anticipated movies of the calendar year, collaborating a mixture of iconic and well known filmmakers to youthful and independent creatives looking to navigate their way into the industry.
The opening slot of the London Film Festival has been occupied by a number of well-received films throughout recent years, with pictures such as Emerald Fennell's 'Saltburn', Matthew Warchus's 'Matilda The Musical' and Samuel Reymes' 'The Harder They Fall' all being a part of the elite club.
But this year, the opening night of the London Film Festival will showcase the return of Academy Award winner, Steve McQueen's return to the director's chair with his new movie 'Blitz'. The picture stars Saoirse Ronan and Harris Dickinson alongside 9-year-old newcomer, Elliott Heffernan in an epic historical drama based on the streets of London throughout the second World War.
The English film director is no stanger to the London Film Festival, having had his film feature on the opening night of the gala on two separate occasions prior to this year's event, with 'Widows' in 2018 and again in 2020 with 'Small Axe'.
The story of 'Blitz' follows George (Heffernan) a 9-year-old boy in World War II London whose Mother Rita (Ronan) sends him away to the English countryside to keep safe from the tragic events unravelling within the capital. Determined to return home to his mother, George ensues on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, whilst a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.
In a recent interview with the BFI, McQueen said that "Blitz is a movie about Londoners... It honours the spirit of what and how Londoners endured the blitz, but also explores the true representation of people in London, while at it's core is the story of a working-class family desperate to be reunited during times of war."
Comments