Director Steve McQueen has gained his reputation from tackling tough subjects, such as Hunger, but also an ability to range from genre to genre, such as Widows and 12 Years a Slave. In this Second World War-set drama, he chooses to focus on the experience of Londoners seeking refuge from German bombs in underground shelters and tunnels. Saoirse Ronan excels as a young woman who has sent her son to the country for safety but the boy, George, decides to make his own way back to the city. A powerful historical drama, filled with atmosphere of the period in costume and sets. McQueen doesn’t shirk from showing the realities of war but also glimmers of normal life that people were desperate to keep.

The screening on Wednesday 29th will be Open Captioned.

Notes by Alicia McGivern