Shia LaBeouf

At one point during “Fury,” the World War II drama starring Brad Pitt, a tank commander’s head is blown off while he’s hunched outside his vehicle during a fiery battle with a combatant. “Fury” writer-director David Ayer insists he didn’t include the surprise decapitation simply to shock moviegoers.

World War II has proven to be fertile cinematic ground: there are so many inspirational stories to tell from a number of perspectives, all important. The challenge lies in telling a new tale and avoiding treading on familiar territory.

The London Film Festival rolls into the capital with 248 films shown at 17 venues over 12 days, bringing with it delights from all over the world.