Released to coincide with the 100 year anniversary of armistice day, Eleven started it's life as a small independent film project of its writer and co-director, Rock Salt and for a film with such limitations its not short on ambition. Historical period pieces are notoriously difficult to shoot for a low budget, so its no small feat that this production manages to achieve both a feeling of scale and emotionally engage its audience for its tight 82 minute running time.
The plot, loosely based on true events, concerns a group of British soldiers in the trenches of World War 1, who are forced to commit one more meaningless offensive as peace is about to be declared between the Allies and Germany on the Western Front. Knowing this to be the case an unhinged British General still orders the men in his sector to attack German lines one last time. So the debate rages between the lower ranks and officers alike if the orders should be followed or should they just wait for peace to be declared. Meanwhile families on both sides at home wait for news of their loved ones, praying that all will return home safely.
On paper with it's minuscule budget, Eleven really shouldn't have worked but thanks to some well framed production shots, clever use of locations and a very committed and talented cast co-directors Sean Cronin and Rock Salt manage to pull it off. The story explores the futility of war and the clash of egos among the different range of characters. The cast and script must take much of the credit for bringing such an interesting range of different personas to life and while some are more memorable than others there's several stand out performances from Joe Bryant as Corporal Reeves, Richard Dee Roberts as Sgt Jones and Julian Gamm as Private Harry Blount all of whom were exceptionally good. Touching moments too come on the home front scenes through the performances from Grace Blackman and Sean Cronin during the films more intimate moments with their characters respective families. Nice too, to see a cameo from Lucy Benjamin supporting such a worthy production.
There's not a huge number of films being made about the Great War. It was a muddy, dirty war, where the battlefields all looked the same and the tactics from both sides rarely changed so its nice to see a film bring this period to life again so convincingly. The ending too packs an emotional wallop that only the most cynical would fail to be moved from.
Occasionally the limits of the budget betray itself on screen, there's some continuity issues and not all the performances are even but minor quibbles aside this is still a well made, extremely moving piece of cinema. So set expectations aside and enjoy the well crafted story and characters as you go back to a time that has been all but forgotten.
The film ultimately offers a message of hope for the future but we know of course, with this being world war one, such words ultimately fell on deaf ears.
