At the height of the First World War, two British soldiers are sent on a death-defying mission. Racing against time, they must cross enemy lines to deliver a message that will save hundreds of lives. Director Sam Mendes has made a film that appears to unfurl as one single take and feels wholly alive. It’s a carefully polished picture, not one that strives for gritty realism. But its inherent devotion to life and beauty is part of its power.

1917 won the Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, and Best Sound Mixing.