A group of Londoners lead their lives as they seek to survive the World War II Nazi bombing of the British capital in Director Steve McQueen’s historical drama, Blitz.
McQueen’s film follows the journey of 9-year-old George, whose mother Rita attempts to sends him to safety in the English countryside. Defiant and determined to return home to his mother and grandfather Gerald, George, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in immense peril, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son.
On October 13 after the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles, McQueen discussed the making of Blitz during a Q&A moderated by Director Barry Jenkins (Mufasa: The Lion King).
During the Los Angeles conversation, McQueen spoke about how he used music to shape the tone of the film.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s the darkest moment we will always find joy. We think it’s bizarre when we look at it from the outside, but when we’re on the inside we will find joy. It’s amazing and that’s who we are. How could I not show that, but also with music. That’s what we did. We soothed ourselves with the music. We cradle ourselves with the music. We fill ourselves drunk with joy with the music because it was a thing that gave us a certain sense of regaining a certain kind of control in an environment that was out of control. It’s so beautiful to move your body and dance and that’s what happened. It’s kinda like Prince, ‘party like it’s 1999,’ you know. ‘Armageddon’s coming but guess what, I’m gonna go out rockin’ baby.’ And that’s what people did. It’s not just something I’m throwing in for light entertainment it’s part of who we are as human beings.”
McQueen’s other directorial credits include the feature films Occupied City, Widows, Shame and Hunger; and episodes of the mini-series Uprising and Small Axe. His 2013 feature 12 Years a Slave garnered McQueen both DGA and Academy Award nominations for directorial achievement and won the Oscar for “Best Picture.”
McQueen has been a DGA member since 2012.