As London is bombarded nightly by the German blitzkrieg during World War II, working-class single mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan), on the advice of her father, Gerald (Paul Weller), makes the heartbreaking decision to send her 9-year-old son George (Elliott Heffernan) to the countryside, along with hundreds of other children seeking safety from the deadly air raids. Shortly into his journey, however, George impulsively jumps from the train, determined to find his way back home to Stepney Green. Working on a vast scale, McQueen, whose multicultural depiction of London in the ‘40s is a welcome corrective, weaves his captivating tale from the parallel perspectives of George, whose quest is fraught with danger, and Rita, who must endure in a city under siege. His impeccable cast includes Stephen Graham, Harris Dickinson, and the great Kathy Burke.

Notes by David O’Mahony