All technical marvels are accepted, and the film's brutal realism acknowledged. However, the premise that the British high command would give two flying handshakes about the fate of 1600 troopers is historically bordering on the insane. In 1916, from July through November, the Battle of the Somme took place. The British lost 20,000 men ON THE FIRST DAY. The total dead and wounded was one million. The premise of this film completely negates anything that cleaves to accuracy. Kubrick's 'Paths of Glory' from 1957 was far closer to reality than '1917.' Perhaps something resembling this chain of events did occur in WW I, but that would have been the rarest of exceptions. The lasting impression this film imparted to this reviewer was one of absolution; exoneration for stupendous military incompetence, and for the high command's disdain toward those in the trenches.