This film is truly a testament of youth and an
eloquent and moving argument against war.
It is based on Vera Brittain’s autobiography in which a young woman is
passionate about being accepted into Oxford, but when her brother and their
friends get caught up in the spirit of serving their country at the onset of
WWI, she feels compelled to join them by taking a leave from her studies and
becoming a nurse in the war zones.
The work of James Kent, the director, has
primarily been in television productions (e.g., “The White Queen”), but here he
demonstrates that he is well prepared for making full-length drama films, as
proven by his being recognized this year with a nomination for Breakthrough
British Filmmaker by the London Critics Circle Film Awards. Testament
of Youth is indeed well directed and beautifully filmed (Rob Hardy,
cinematographer), with an evocative musical score (Max Richter)—all of which,
along with the acting, elevates the production.
We recently had the pleasure of seeing Vikander
in Ex Machina, Anna Karenina, and A Royal Affair, and her considerable
talent and skills are in evidence here once more as a cheeky young British
woman, Vera, willing to buck all kinds of obstacles in achieving her
goals. In addition to jumping the
major hurdle of being accepted into Oxford as a female, she skillfully manages
to get her fiancé to open up to her when he returns from his first stint in the
service traumatized by the death of one of his men, and later badgers a
commanding officer for the true story of what happened to someone very dear to
her.
Also noteworthy in the realization of their
roles are Harington as Roland, Vera’s love interest, and Egerton as her brother
Edward. It’s refreshing to see
these male characters supporting Vera’s aspirations and being sensitive to
women’s issues, particularly in that day and age. We know Harington best from “Game of Thrones” where he has
been a hit and heart throb. Here,
he is more an artist type like Vera, and the poems of both of them grace the
film very nicely. Vera’s and
Edward’s parents (West and Watson) are veteran actors who can always be relied
upon to give fine performances.
This is a period film of beauty, but with much
heartache as the horrors of war are graphically displayed. It’s plain to see why Vera Brittain,
the author of the memoir, devoted her adult life to advocating against war.
Beautiful, moving, and
heartbreaking—but oh so real.
Grade: A By Donna
R. Copeland
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