Even at the end of 1917, the surviving character feels numb. His desperate mission drove him on with adrenaline through situations of extraordinary terror and pain. The desperation is what causes him to do brave things. But when you see it happen you don’t think “wow how epic” you feel awe, but horror that he was put in a position to even HAVE to do some of the things he did.

No one watching this movie would think “we should have more war” or “I want to be that main character”. It’s horror. In fact, the entire movie is shot LIKE a horror movie, because we often see from his perspective, and when he’s not sure if he’s about to be shot or killed or blown up, we can’t see anything he can’t see.

It truly deserves to win Best Picture. And I say that as someone who doesn’t normally like “war movies”. But this is no ordinary war film. It is not jingoistic, it is not an “action” movie, it is not British propaganda. It is about the human condition, and about our best selves trying to survive in the hell that humans create.