Blitz

Examining a world of conflict and prejudice through the eyes of an innocent child, Blitz captures the working-class panic and paranoia of early 1940s Britain in ways that resonate across chronological and geographic boundaries.

This tender yet provocative drama from director Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave) offers a new perspective on Holocaust horrors via a boy who has always felt like an outcast, enhanced by an expressive performance and evocative period re-creation.

As the story opens, London is on edge because of impending Nazi aggression, as signaled by persistent air-raid sirens in the distance.

That leads factory worker Rita (Saoirse Ronan) to evacuate her biracial son, George (Elliott Heffernan), to the countryside via train. “It’s an adventure for children only — no grownups allowed,” she explains in an effort to reassure the anxious youngster.

When not under his mother’s watchful eye, George is subject to persistent oppression and ridicule that leaves him emotionally scarred, so his first instinct is to flee back home, to Rita and his beloved grandfather (Paul Weller). He jumps off the train and begins an odyssey of self-discovery, oblivious to some of the dangers he will face.

Meanwhile, Rita finds camaraderie with her coworkers who manufacture munitions, but her hopes of someday reuniting with George turn into panic and desperation when she realizes that he never arrived at his destination.

Being on his own takes George out of his comfort zone and forces him to come to terms with his racial identity, uncertain about who he can trust as he navigates rubble-filled streets and crowded underground stations.

McQueen’s character-driven screenplay struggles to reconcile its idealism with some of the harrowing realities its true-life backdrop presents, veering in tone between whimsical fantasy and gut-wrenching melodrama.

Still, the film generates sympathy through George’s resilience and resourcefulness. Heffernan conveys a wide-eyed curiosity that feels authentic even when some of his line readings are a bit mechanical. The supporting cast brings depth and complexity as the film remains grounded in relatable character dynamics even as the story stretches credibility.

The film tends to depict the destruction and despair in brief and intense bursts, which enhances the impact. Although its Dickensian aspirations remain elusive, Blitz is rooted in emotional authenticity.

Rated PG-13, 120 minutes.