1917 — Ending Explained

The central plot of "1917" follows Lance Corporals Schofield and Blake on a mission to deliver a message to call off an attack. A major turning point occurs early in the film when the two soldiers rescue a downed German pilot from his burning plane. As Schofield gets water, the pilot unexpectedly stabs Blake, who dies in Schofield's arms after making him promise to complete the mission. This shocking death shifts the entire emotional weight of the film onto Schofield, transforming the mission from one of duty and friendship into a solemn vow.

Schofield continues alone, facing numerous ordeals, including being shot by a sniper, escaping a German-occupied town, and nearly drowning in a river. He eventually reaches the 2nd Devons just as the first wave of the attack begins. In the film's climax, Schofield is forced to climb out of the crowded trenches and sprint across the active battlefield, parallel to the charging soldiers, to reach Colonel Mackenzie's dugout in time. He delivers the message, and a reluctant Mackenzie finally calls off the attack.

After confirming the attack is halted, Schofield finds Blake's brother, Lieutenant Joseph Blake, and informs him of Tom's death, passing along his rings and dog tags. In the film's final moments, Schofield sits under a tree, finally at rest. He pulls out a hidden photograph of his wife and two young daughters, with the inscription "Come back to us." This reveal recontextualizes his entire journey; his initial weariness and his ultimate perseverance were driven not just by a soldier's duty, but by the deep, unspoken hope of returning to his family. The ending shot mirrors the opening, but the man is now forever changed by his journey and loss.

One alternative interpretation of the film views Schofield's journey not just as a literal mission but as an allegorical descent into hell and back, akin to a classic epic poem. The landscapes he traverses—the corpse-strewn No Man's Land, the fiery ruins of Écoust, the river of bodies—can be seen as different circles of a Dantean underworld. His emergence from the river is a form of rebirth, allowing him to complete his quest.

Another reading focuses on the cyclical and pointless nature of war. The film begins and ends with Schofield resting against a tree. While he has completed his mission and saved 1,600 men, the final shot suggests that this is just a temporary reprieve. The war will continue, and another mission will inevitably follow. This interpretation posits that the 'victory' is fleeting and that Schofield is merely back where he started, awaiting the next horrific task, thus highlighting the unending trauma of the conflict rather than a triumphant conclusion.