The incredible cinematography in 1917 (2019), curated by DP Roger Deakins, was one hell of an invention. Watch the video from the film’s set, and see how difficult it was to arrive at this result.

When Parasite (2019) was awarded an Oscar in Best Picture category, some filmgoers were over the moon (me included). However, many claimed that it was Sam Mendes’ immersive war epic 1917 (2019) that deserved to win more. While I loved it and thought it was one of the best war-themed films of all time, it deserved to sweep the visual categories only.

No matter which side you’re on, there’s an ultimate truth about this film, which regards to the phenomenal cinematography of Roger Deakins.

Deakins, who already won an Oscar for his tremendous work on the set of Blade Runner 2049 (2017), has quite outdone himself in 1917 (2019). The entire film is shot and edited so that it imitates a long, continuous take. This might seem like an easy-peasy job – considering films such as Victoria (2015) which was, in fact, a single take. But it’s a different story when you count hundreds of extras, the widescreen landscape and general dynamics of the story.

What was the secret of 1917 (2019)?

Camera going from hands to hands, montages including wires and ladders, and an incredible amount of planning. But to get the full picture (and some on-set footage), take a look at the material from IMDb below.