Sam Mendes’s 1917 and Philosophy

Photo by Francois Duhamel / Universal Pic

Down to Gehenna or up to the Throne,
He travels the fastest who travels alone.
                                     --Rudyard Kipling, "The Winners"

Colin Firth’s General Erinmore recites the above quote upon revealing the hero’s quest to the film’s duo of protagonists. What feels like a bit of abstract encouragement turns out to initiate a major through-line for the film and its heroes. And in following…