One Life
World War II is a period in human history that has been depicted in every entertainment medium imaginable. So you might think that surely every story has already been tapped, but then a film like One Life comes along & stuns you with its heartbreaking tale.
One Life tells the story of British humanitarian Nicholas Winton, who helped save hundreds of European children from the Nazis on the eve of World War II.
Depicting such an important person from history bears such a massive weight that it's a role & burden that is shared by Anthony Hopkins & Johnny Flynn. The role is split between the two actors as the story is explored across two time periods as an elderly Nicholas Winton (Hopkins) reflects on his earlier life achievements while cleaning out his office before Christmas.
While Flynn is solid as a younger version of Winton this film belongs to Hopkins. Through his portrayal Hopkins imbues Winton, & in turn the viewer, with a sense of desperation, heartbreak & tension. Even all of these years after the end of the war Winton is still deeply connected to both the children he saved & the ones he couldn't. Don't be surprised if Hopkins suddenly pops up on award nomination lists again because of this film.
One Life is a beautiful yet tragic film that truly epitomises the belief that if you fail to learn from the past then you'll be doomed to repeat it. Despite being an incredibly heavy watch this is a must-watch for everybody, particularly given the current state of global politics.
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