Saoirse Ronan Says There ‘Wasn’t Really an Escape’ From WWII Drama ‘Blitz’ While Filming: ‘You’d Put on the News and See Exactly the Same Thing’

Saoirse Ronan reflects on the intense filming of WWII drama 'Blitz' amid real-world conflict.

: Saoirse Ronan discussed her emotional experience filming Steve McQueen's WWII drama 'Blitz', noting the parallels between its chaotic scenes and current global conflicts. During the BFI London Film Festival, she expressed how the project felt inescapable as world events echoed the film’s narrative. The film features Ronan as Rita, searching for her son during the Blitz in wartime London, and is slated for a November 1st theater release and a November 22nd Apple TV+ premiere. McQueen also highlighted the film’s urgent themes, including the recent Middle East conflict, urging viewers to reflect on societal complacency.

At the BFI London Film Festival's press conference, Saoirse Ronan shared her experience working on Steve McQueen's WWII drama 'Blitz', emphasizing how the real-world news mirrored the film’s harrowing scenes. She described the project as unique in its lack of escapism, often hearing news that mirrored the chaos portrayed onscreen.

Ronan stars as Rita, a mother desperate to reunite with her son George amidst the wartime Blitz. The film, featuring a cast with Harris Dickinson and Erin Kellyman, debuts in select theaters on November 1 and globally on Apple TV+ on November 22, presenting a vivid narrative on Londoners' endurance.

Steve McQueen, known for '12 Years a Slave', remarked on the poignancy of 'Blitz' in light of recent events like violence in the Middle East. He suggested that the film could spark broader dialogue, urging reflection on when society began ignoring such pressing issues.