Is Blitz based on a true story? Explained 

Blitz is a 2024 film about the nazi bombings in London during World War 2. It stars Saoirse Ronan and newcomer Elliott Heffernan as lead actors. Heffernan plays George, a young boy navigating wartime London, while his mother, Rita, is portrayed by Saoirse Ronan. Steve McQueen, who directed 12 Years a Slave, wrote, directed, and co-produced this movie.

As per IMDb, the storyline of the movie reads:

"The stories of a group of Londoners during the German bombing campaign of the British capital during World War II."

Blitz, produced by Lammas Park and Working Title Films, premiered at the BFI London Film Festival on October 9, 2024, for a limited theatrical release. On November 22, 2024, it was released on Apple TV+. The movie has an approximate runtime of 2 hours and 10 minutes, portraying wartime London through its storyline and performances.

It is a fictional period drama set during World War II, depicting the life of Londoners during the Nazi's blitzkrieg bombings. Although the whole story is fiction, it vividly portrays the realities and atmosphere of the bombings.

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Blitz is not based on a true story

Blitz is not a movie based on a real story, but it borrows from the stories of people who experienced the London bombings by the Nazis.

The character George is an adventurous boy at his core, portraying the numerous children who had to evacuate London during bombings, except for his bold defiance that stops him from running away. Rita, George's mother, represents the strength of women who kept families together while men were away at war.

Supportive characters such as Albert and Beryl represent the personalities of the wartime Londoners, who were often a mix of kindness and toughness shaped by the War struggle. The appearance of Dickensian figures is quite evident in the movie, representing the extremes of humanity, from empathy to abuse, shaped by desperate times.

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What is Blitz about?

It is a story surrounding the struggle of George, a young child living in London during World War 2 who had refused to evacuate during the Nazi's blitzkrieg bombings. George boards train when others are evacuating themselves to safer places. He wants to reunite with his mother, Rita, who is working hard in the city for their survival.

Elliott Heffernan as George (Image via YouTube/@Apple TV)

George encounters many characters like Jack, a soldier fighting with his past, and Albert, who appears to be a good individual with bad intentions. One scene where George moves through a neighborhood destroyed by bombs depicts the horrific everyday lives of civilians in London at that time.

Another scene where Rita and her father, Gerald, argue over whether to stay or leave depicts the family tension due to the war. Characters like Beryl and Mickey Davies contribute to the story and allow viewers to witness everyday people trying to survive during extraordinary times.

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Blitz: Cast List

Saoirse Ronan (Image via Getty/@Kevin Winter)

• Saoirse Ronan as Rita, George's mother, has previously starred in Lady Bird and Brooklyn.
• Elliot Heffernan debuts in Blitz as George, the young boy defying evacuation orders.
• Harris Dickinson as Jack, an ally to George, is known for his roles in The Kings of the World and Beach Rats.
• Benjamin Clementine, as Ife, brings his stage and music career into the acting world.
• Kathy Burke as Beryl, known for her roles in The British Empire and Absolutely Fabulous.
• Paul Weller as Gerald, Rita’s father, with his extensive music career, including his work with The Jam and The Style Council.
• Stephen Graham as Albert, famous for his roles in This Is England and Boardwalk Empire.

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Blitz is available to stream on Apple TV+.