My Review - One Life
In Cinemas now
My Rating 10/10
Before I begin this review I have to say that it was impossible for me not to be moved by Nicholas Winton story without looking at it through the prism of World events today, in the hope that perhaps there is a Nicholas Winton working in the background to save the innocent children caught up in todays war torn world.
One of the end credits of this fine movie states that Nicholas Winton left his scrapbook to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Israel . My hope is that the politicians in Israel look at this scrapbook and learn its lessons as was Nicholas Winton's wish for his legacy to teach rather than preach.
Already more than 6,600 Palestinian children that's ten times more than the 660 children Nicholas Winton helped rescue have been killed in the conflict between Israel and Gaza and not forgetting the estimated 535 children killed in the conflict in Ukraine .
The movie One Life skilfully directed by James Hawkes is based on the true story of British humanitarian Nicholas Winton .
The role of young Nicholas Winton is played by Johnny Flynn who perfectly compliments his older self played by Anthony Hopkins .
Anthony Hopkins in my opinion is one of the most skilful actors in the business today . Every one of his performances is a masterclass study in understanding empathy and humility rarely does his characterisation seem forced or contrived that can't be said of many actors.
One Life is set in two eras 1938 to 1939 during the beginning of World War 11 when the German Army occupied and invaded Czechoslovakia .
Then nearly 50 years later in 1987 Anthony Hopkins as the elderly Nicholas Winton looks back on his past efforts to help groups of Jewish children in German-occupied Czechoslovakia .
A humble quiet man not seeking notoriety but wanting his experience to be preserved in an effort to perhaps stop the same events occurring again is thrust into the limelight of a television show with an amazing result.
We see how the traumatic events on his arrival in Prague when he first witnesses the plight of Jewish refugees fleeing the cruel Nazi regime prompts him to initiate an escape plan for the children of targeted parents in an effort to avoid their obvious fate if left to the mercy of the invading German army.
With the help of his colleagues in Prague and his mother Babette Winton played by the wonderful Helena Bonham Carter in one of her best supporting roles in years he forms the life saving operation known as the Czech Kindertransport .
His mother battles the government bureaucracy back home in an effort to locate foster parents and visas to bring the children to freedom in England while Nicholas Winton and his team in Prague organise transport and try to locate the lists of endangered children from the Jewish authorities after gaining their trust.
Wonderful ensemble supporting performances from Romola Garai, Alex Sharp, Jonathan Pryce, Lena Olin. Tom Glenister, Samantha Spiro and many more bring this emotional heartfelt true story to life on screen.
It's so wonderful for this moviegoer to end 2023 with 2 movies in a row that I consider among the best of the year , especially on Sir Anthony Hopkin's 86th Birthday may you be blessed with many more days One at a Time.
Before I begin this review I have to say that it was impossible for me not to be moved by Nicholas Winton story without looking at it through the prism of World events today, in the hope that perhaps there is a Nicholas Winton working in the background to save the innocent children caught up in todays war torn world.
One of the end credits of this fine movie states that Nicholas Winton left his scrapbook to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Israel . My hope is that the politicians in Israel look at this scrapbook and learn its lessons as was Nicholas Winton's wish for his legacy to teach rather than preach.
Already more than 6,600 Palestinian children that's ten times more than the 660 children Nicholas Winton helped rescue have been killed in the conflict between Israel and Gaza and not forgetting the estimated 535 children killed in the conflict in Ukraine .
The movie One Life skilfully directed by James Hawkes is based on the true story of British humanitarian Nicholas Winton .
The role of young Nicholas Winton is played by Johnny Flynn who perfectly compliments his older self played by Anthony Hopkins .
Anthony Hopkins in my opinion is one of the most skilful actors in the business today . Every one of his performances is a masterclass study in understanding empathy and humility rarely does his characterisation seem forced or contrived that can't be said of many actors.
One Life is set in two eras 1938 to 1939 during the beginning of World War 11 when the German Army occupied and invaded Czechoslovakia .
Then nearly 50 years later in 1987 Anthony Hopkins as the elderly Nicholas Winton looks back on his past efforts to help groups of Jewish children in German-occupied Czechoslovakia .
A humble quiet man not seeking notoriety but wanting his experience to be preserved in an effort to perhaps stop the same events occurring again is thrust into the limelight of a television show with an amazing result.
We see how the traumatic events on his arrival in Prague when he first witnesses the plight of Jewish refugees fleeing the cruel Nazi regime prompts him to initiate an escape plan for the children of targeted parents in an effort to avoid their obvious fate if left to the mercy of the invading German army.
With the help of his colleagues in Prague and his mother Babette Winton played by the wonderful Helena Bonham Carter in one of her best supporting roles in years he forms the life saving operation known as the Czech Kindertransport .
His mother battles the government bureaucracy back home in an effort to locate foster parents and visas to bring the children to freedom in England while Nicholas Winton and his team in Prague organise transport and try to locate the lists of endangered children from the Jewish authorities after gaining their trust.
Wonderful ensemble supporting performances from Romola Garai, Alex Sharp, Jonathan Pryce, Lena Olin. Tom Glenister, Samantha Spiro and many more bring this emotional heartfelt true story to life on screen.
It's so wonderful for this moviegoer to end 2023 with 2 movies in a row that I consider among the best of the year , especially on Sir Anthony Hopkin's 86th Birthday may you be blessed with many more days One at a Time.