One Life (2023)
7.728 /10
224 Reviews
Rate This Movie:
British stockbroker Nicholas Winton visits Czechoslovakia in the 1930s and forms plans to assist in the rescue of Jewish children before the onset of World War II, in an operation that came to be known as the Kindertransport.
Videos & Photos
cast
... Nicholas Winton
... Nicholas Winton (young)
... Babi Winton
... Martin Blake
... Doreen Warriner
User reviews
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://fandomwire.com/one-life-bfi-london-film-festival-review-a-must-watch-important-wwii-story/
"One Life is yet another important story from WWII that deserves to be seen on the big screen.
Despite not breaking genre barriers, it unfolds its narrative in a captivating manner, packed with devastating, bittersweet moments, but also filled with wonderful depictions of altruism, humanitarian sacrifice, and hope, culminating in a powerfully cathartic ending that serves as an ideal tribute to Sir Nicholas Winton.
The cast carries the weight of the responsibility of the rescue mission with grounded care, relying on the legendary Anthony Hopkins to bear the explosion of the accumulated emotion.
Beautifully edited, tear-inducing score... simply a must-watch."
Rating: A-
Director:
Release Date:
2023-09-09
Run Time:
109 min
MMPA Rating:
PG
Reviews of
One Life
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://fandomwire.com/one-life-bfi-london-film-festival-review-a-must-watch-important-wwii-story/
"One Life is yet another important story from WWII that deserves to be seen on the big screen.
Despite not breaking genre barriers, it unfolds its narrative in a captivating manner, packed with devastating, bittersweet moments, but also filled with wonderful depictions of altruism, humanitarian sacrifice, and hope, culminating in a powerfully cathartic ending that serves as an ideal tribute to Sir Nicholas Winton.
The cast carries the weight of the responsibility of the rescue mission with grounded care, relying on the legendary Anthony Hopkins to bear the explosion of the accumulated emotion.
Beautifully edited, tear-inducing score... simply a must-watch."
Rating: A-
Johnny Flynn performs quite well here as the young stockbroker Nicholas Winton who arrives in Prague just as the Nazis annexe the Sudetenland. He is horrified by the child poverty that he sees and decides, perhaps naively, to work with his British Refugee Council colleagues to try and expedite their removal to a safer and altogether earthier environment. Fortunately, his mother Babette (Helena Bonham Carter), herself from immigrant stock, is no slouch when it comes to doorstepping officials in Whitehall and soon has convinced the authorities to agree a fast-track mechanism that will enable him to get the children back to the UK provided they have guaranteed foster homes and the fairly massive sum of £50 as a guarantee. He returns to London and a massive public awareness/fundraising campaign ensues - as do eight trains carrying over six hundred children to safety. We are told this story via a series of flashbacks from the modern day Winton (Sir Anthony Hopkins) who now lives peacefully with his wife Greta (Lena Olin) in Berkshire. He is perusing a scrapbook he has left in a drawer for forty-odd years in which he has photographs and details of many of those passengers on the "Kinder" trains. His friend from back then (Jonathan Pryce) manages to put him in touch with Betty Maxwell - the wife of the wealthy publisher Robert, and next thing he is on British television's most popular "That's Life" programme that regularly reached 18 million people on a Sunday evening. This appearance poignantly introduces him to one survivor, his next sees that snowball into some sixty or so who owed their life and liberty to the efforts of Winton and his colleagues - whom he is always very clear to ensure are never forgotten. I recall watching this programme back in the day and the dramatisation is no less moving than the original broadcast. Sir Anthony offers us a considered performance - demonstrating a shy family man who rejects the trappings of fuss and celebrity because he sees his behaviour as nothing special. Doing the right thing. His efforts are touching and understated and nicely dovetail with the rather pushy and forthright Bonham Carter fighting tooth and nail against red tape in 1939. As an insight to Nazi tyranny it also works subtly. We see very little actual violence, but we see a squalor and hopelessness that robs the soul of hope as depressingly as the situation robs their stomachs of food. The film looks good and is sparingly scripted allowing our own imagination to do much of the thinking here.
A touching picture featuring Anthony Hopkins.
'One Life' is 'Schindler's List'-esque, though perhaps more of a grounded portrayal of such events without the proper Hollywood-ness drama that that aforementioned flick holds; no hate on that sensational Steven Spielberg production by any means, it's a far better film in fact. This 2023 release is very hearty though, one of those movies where it is impossible not to care for the people onscreen.
There are plenty of emotional scenes that touch the feels, with one involving Hopkins right at the end particularly hitting. That man is excellent throughout, as expected. Johnny Flynn impresses too, he is just as important here as the Welshman. Helena Bonham Carter is a little underused, especially given she's on the cover, but very good. Neat to see Jonathan Pryce appear, also.
I actually remember seeing that real 'That's Life!' clip randomly on YouTube many years back and I didn't realise until just before it's portrayed here that it was reenacting that exact moment. Whether you watch this film or not, that video is truly a must-watch.
Cast & Crew of
One Life
Cast
... Nicholas Winton
... Nicholas Winton (young)
... Babi Winton
... Martin Blake
... Doreen Warriner
... Trevor
... Grete Winton
... Esther Rantzen
... Geoff
... Betty Maxwell
... Martin Blake
... William
... Bernard
... Rabbi Hertz
... Nina
... Barbara Winton
Crew
... Set Decoration
... Editor
... Casting
... Director
... Producer
... Producer
... Production Design
... Production Designer
... Executive Producer
... Steadicam Operator
... "A" Camera Operator
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Producer
... Original Music Composer
... Line Producer
... Screenplay
... Foley Artist
... Gaffer
... Casting
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Director of Photography
... Gaffer
... Still Photographer
... First Assistant Director
... Digital Imaging Technician
... Colorist
... Producer
... Camera Operator
... Executive Producer
... Hairstylist
... Foley Mixer
... Digital Imaging Technician
... First Assistant "B" Camera
... First Assistant Editor
... Supervising Art Director
... Casting
... Additional Photography
... Property Master
... Makeup Designer
... Co-Producer
... Foley Editor
... Third Assistant Director
... Costume Design
... Key Grip
... Production Manager
... First Assistant Director
... Property Master
... Production Executive
... ADR Mixer
... Sound Mixer
... Property Buyer
... Stunts
... Executive Producer
... Script Supervisor
... Second Assistant Sound
... Second Assistant Director
... Set Decoration
... Production Sound Mixer
... Storyboard Artist
... Production Secretary
... Art Direction
... Visual Effects Producer
... Screenplay
... Special Effects Supervisor
... Camera Trainee
... Production Assistant
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Second Assistant Director
... Second Assistant Director
... Assistant Production Coordinator
... First Assistant "A" Camera
... Location Scout
... Production Coordinator
... Location Scout
... Graphic Designer
... First Assistant Camera
... Executive Producer
... Location Manager
... Best Boy Electric
... Graphic Designer
... Makeup Artist
... Makeup Artist
... Electrician
... Camera Trainee
... Production Executive
... Set Dresser
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Set Decoration
... Unit Manager
... Production Manager
... Art Department Coordinator
... Art Department Assistant
... Art Department Trainee
... ADR Recordist
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Editor
... Visual Effects Editor
... Electrician
... Electrician
... Second Assistant Camera
... Video Assist Operator
... Assistant Editor
... Digital Intermediate
... Location Scout
... Assistant Location Manager
... Transportation Captain
... Production Assistant
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