Fresh from building buzz at Venice, Hacksaw Ridge is heading for London. American Airlines Presents… Empire Live will be hosting a UK-first screening of Mel Gibson’s blistering new war movie on Saturday, 24 September. Tickets are on sale now. You’ll have to bring your own hard hat.
The true-life story of Desmond T. Doss, a conscientious objector who volunteers as a medic in the Pacific campaign, Hacksaw Ridge left festival crowds thunderstruck by its visceral combat sequences and Andrew Garfield's towering central performance. It’s likely to feature heavily in the awards conversation this year, so its presence on the Empire Live roster is a major coup.
With a script by Robert Schenkkan and Andrew Knight, Hacksaw Ridge is based on the true story of Doss from basic training to the battle of Okinawa. His religious and moral objections to handling weapons initially earned him the scorn of his commanding officers and fellow troops, but his incredible valour saving lives during the battle saw him awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the first time a conscientious objector has won the decoration.
Head to the Empire Live website for all the info on this and other scheduled events, in what promises to be a very full weekend of film-related fun.