Steve McQueen’s last project was the ambitious “Small Axe” anthology series for the BBC which was composed of five films (three of them were flat-out great). Now, for his latest film, titled “Blitz,” he’s tackling the Second World War.
McQueen started production on “Blitz” during the first week of December and has in fact wrapped production on the film this past week in the UK.
The film is based on his own original idea and takes place during the German bombing campaign against the United Kingdom in 1940. Saoirse Ronan stars.
Now McQueen has six months to complete editing on this one, that is if he wants it to premiere at TIFF, Venice and/or Telluride in September. Otherwise, a BFI London premiere in October seems to a no-brainer.
In a 09.30.21 piece titled “Is Paul Thomas Anderson Still The Current 'Master' of Cinema?” I named the 10 best directors working today — one of the ten was UK filmmaker McQueen.
With a resume that includes “Hunger,” “Shame,” “12 Years A Slave,” and “Lovers Rock” (all excellent) it’s always exciting to find out what former-visual-artist-turned-director McQueen will do next.
“Blitz” is being produced by Apple TV.
“Hope,” Na’s first film in ten years — his last one being the exemplary “The Wailing” —is a gloriously messy, blood-soaked sci-fi epic that may become a cult classic despite—or because of—its polarizing nature.