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After a limited release in French theaters last weekend, Blitz arrives today in streaming.
The director's new film Steve McQueen tells the Battle of London from the inside and the German bombings on the English population, at the heart of the Second World War. An impressive work, because Blitz built and destroyed its real sets, instead of relying on computer-generated images. With his production designer Adam Stockhausenthey carefully thought out the production:
“Adam is first and foremost a storyteller. A brick wall isn't just a brick wall to him, there's a story behind it. That's what Adam brings to a film.” tells the English filmmaker in Variety, for whom atmosphere was a crucial factor in Blitzkeen to capture even the dust particles floating in the air after a night of intensive bombardment…
“It was a great setting to do.” resumes Adam Stockhausenin Variety. “This battle was a real event. It actually happened. So we had to give the story the opportunity to show the intensity of the life that was taking place, underground, while this terrible thing was happening to the city. Life continued. And then once we have built all that, 180 degree turn: he proceeds with total destruction!“
For Steve McQueenthese explosions and massive destruction are “the poetry of this work. I'm not interested in explosions as such. It’s the consequences, the before and after that interest me.” And here again, the destruction had to be adjusted to the millimeter:
“It was beautiful to build these incredible sets but also to destroy them. How do you destroy a set in a way that makes it look like a bomb went off? It's art, and it's difficult. It's not just about taking a hammer or a bulldozer to destroy things. How are we going to break this balcony? It's a conversation. Dust particles and flashlights are a beautiful thing. .”
Adam Stockhausen nevertheless specifies that he was “difficult for actors and extras to film too. It was real rubble and real dust. We totally destroyed the place...”
Blitz, to watch on Apple TV+ and also in France on Canal+.