The ‘haunting’ real-life story behind WWI masterpiece 1917

Why 1917 means so much to Sam Mendes

The director has now opened up about the family experience that inspired the film, giving the World War One epic an entirely different meaning.

Speaking to Radio 1 film critic Ali Plumb, Mendes revealed that the film was heavily inspired by stories told by his grandfather, Alfred Mendes, who enlisted in the British Army when he was just 17.

Alfred served with the 1st Rifle Brigade between 1916 and 1918 and was awarded the Military Medal during his service. 

However, despite spending years fighting in Flanders, he rarely spoke about his experiences once the war was over. In fact, Mendes said his grandfather remained silent about the subject for around five or six decades before eventually opening up to his grandchildren.

“He told us stories that were fairly shocking, particularly for young kids, but they weren’t stories of heroism, or bravery, or how he won his two medals,” Mendes said. “They were stories of luck, chance and coincidence, and how lucky he was to be alive.”

Those memories clearly stayed with Mendes, but one story eventually became the starting point for 1917. 

“There was one particular story he told us about carrying a message across no man’s land alone at dusk. I couldn’t let go of that one image. I thought: What if we develop that into a single journey of more epic proportions?”

That question ultimately became 1917, which follows two young soldiers as they race across enemy territory to deliver a message that could prevent hundreds of men from walking into a deadly trap.