X
In Theaters Now
- 2024
- PG
- Bleecker Street Media
- 1 h 49 m
- 2024
- PG
- Bleecker Street Media
- 1 h 49 m
Summary Sir Nicholas ‘Nicky’ Winton (Johnny Flynn) is a young London broker, who, in the months leading up to World War II, rescued 669 children from the Nazis. Nicky visited Prague in December 1938 and found families who had fled the rise of the Nazis in Germany and Austria, living in desperate conditions with little or no shelter and food, and...
Directed By: James Hawes
Written By: Lucinda Coxon, Nick Drake, Barbara Winton
In Theaters Now
- 2024
- PG
- Bleecker Street Media
- 1 h 49 m
- 2024
- PG
- Bleecker Street Media
- 1 h 49 m
One Life
69
6.4
Where to Watch
Summary Sir Nicholas ‘Nicky’ Winton (Johnny Flynn) is a young London broker, who, in the months leading up to World War II, rescued 669 children from the Nazis. Nicky visited Prague in December 1938 and found families who had fled the rise of the Nazis in Germany and Austria, living in desperate conditions with little or no shelter and food, and...
Directed By: James Hawes
Written By: Lucinda Coxon, Nick Drake, Barbara Winton
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 30 Critic Reviews
69
67% Positive
20 Reviews
20 Reviews
33% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 30 Critic Reviews
69
67% Positive
20 Reviews
20 Reviews
33% Mixed
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
This is what Hopkins has been showing us for decade after decade: the deepest, rawest and most tortured feelings of private, dignified men. His is nothing less than a glorious cinematic legacy, and the miracle is that he keeps building on it.
One Life breaks no new cinematic ground. But it tells a story worth hearing. And it allows an indisputable great one more chance to show us what he can do.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 20 User Ratings
6.4
50% Positive
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
35% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
15% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 20 User Ratings
6.4
50% Positive
10 Ratings
10 Ratings
35% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
15% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
The film may seem conventional; However, its weight lies in the story of a capeless hero whose efforts and courage saved hundreds of innocent children. And the greatest weight of that plot falls on Anthony Hopkins. Anyone who is not moved or cries should see a doctor.
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The flashback scenes are not as compelling as they try to be. The Hopkins scenes are more engaging, not just because we look forward to the re-enactment of the television reveal, but because the film is sharper at addressing the existential issues of purpose and meaning than it is in showing us the difficulties in rescuing the children.
Although the film as a whole struggles to match the poignancy of its finale . . . it nevertheless serves as an urgent reminder of the importance of individual action at a time when the world refugee crisis is at a scale not seen since the Second World War.
When a movie wades into the vast pool of World War II and Holocaust titles, the viewer expects a splash. One Life is, at best, a spritz. It delivers a lot of what we’ve already seen before, but on a less-than-cinematic scale. Yet spending some time with Hopkins and exploring a speck of light in one of the world’s darkest chapters is just satisfying enough.
In some ways, it’s one of Hopkins’ best performances from the last few years, beautifully underplayed, eschewing mannerisms or silly accents. It’s just a shame the film itself, directed by James Hawes, with a script by Lucinda Coxon and Nick Drake, is a bit worthy and diagrammatic.
Throughout it all, Winton remains a cypher. There’s no curiosity here about him or the people he dedicated his time to. There’s no emotional journey to help us understand him and the stubborn modesty that made him so reluctant to share his story.
(Mauro Lanari)
In "The Guardian" (Davis 2006), Costner explains (to Kutcher) that he keeps count of the people he didn't rescue rather than the other way around. Pedantic and didactic? Yet the essence of Levi's latest book is this: to look humbly and anti-heroically at the glass as half empty instead of half full. "One Life" has some trouble in reiterating such concept. Of course, "you must know we cannot save them all" and Hopkins/Winton can't find peace, however it is only with the final line of the credits that the diligent debut director in a feature film moves away from a British Schindler to definitively clarify how he was interested in telling about those 669 children of the "Kindertransport" operation as a small example of the over 117 million displaced and stateless refugees impacted by humanitarian crises in 2023 alone.
Report
For some of us, there’s no stopping when it comes to seeing through on a mission of vital importance. So it was in 1938, when a dedicated English stockbroker selflessly enabled the successful escape of 669 children (mostly Jewish) from Prague not long after the Third Reich “annexed” Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland region, the first step toward Germany’s invasion of the country and the eventual onset of World War II. British-born Nicholas Winton (Anthony Hopkins), the descendant of German Jewish ancestors, and members of the British Committee for Refugees from Czechoslovakia both on the ground and in London worked tirelessly against seemingly impossible odds to facilitate the youngsters’ flight to freedom. In particular, Winton’s younger self (Johnny Flynn) and his determined mother (Helena Bonham Carter) battled a reluctant British bureaucracy, intolerant prejudicial attitudes and border-crossing obstacles to arrange protective train transport across Europe to secure the safety of the young refugees. But, for all of Winton’s successes, he felt remorse that he was unable to do more, especially when he looked back on what he accomplished 40 years after the fact. Thankfully, his efforts didn’t go unnoticed, at last receiving the recognition for what he did, earning him the gratitude of the survivors and the honors **** nation, in essence becoming the UK's counterpart to Oskar Schindler. Director James Hawes tells a compelling story in his debut feature film, though the execution, regrettably, could use some shoring up, especially in the film’s sluggishly paced, overly talky and occasionally meandering opening half. The picture’s back end, however, considerably makes up for these deficiencies, evoking genuine, well-earned, heartfelt emotions, qualities that could have made for a better release overall if they had been employed more fully earlier on. This is largely made possible by the powerful performances of Hopkins, Flynn, Bonham Carter and a host of supporting players, along with fine period piece production values. “One Life” ultimately delivers a message that we could all stand to hear more often, not only in supporting monumental undertakings like those depicted here, but also in being giving of ourselves in general, no matter how great or small the efforts or ventures might be. The world would certainly be a better place for doing so – and for the work of the Nicholas Wintons that reside within all of us.
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A totally heartbreaking story told in the flattest way possible. It's interesting (especially in these times of tragedy) to delve into the feat of an English hero who saved hundreds of Czech children just before the start of the Second World War since it's unknown to the general public. However, outside of Anthony Hopkins' emotional performance, the film does not stand out in any specific part. Check it out if you're into the genre but don't expect anything profound.
Report
Anthony Hopkins dá vida ao grande homem Nicholas Winton, que ajudou a salvar algo em torno de 669 crianças que moravam em Praga, logo antes de **** a invadir, transferindo-as para a Inglaterra.
Estranho como um longa do mesmo diretor de alguns episódios de "Black Mirror" se sai extremamente burocrático e piegas, é como assistir "A lista de Schindler" versão programa sensacionalista de domingo, e é bem isso mesmo que o roteiro caminha: o ápice é quando os feitos vêm à tona mediante um programa televisivo, com direito a cenas constrangedoras típicas para agradar uma audiência de forma apelativa.
Mas todo esse desenvolvimento choroso, como a trilha irritante e os closes no olhar abatido das crianças, conta ao menos com o talento do Hopkins e de todo elenco adulto, nomes como Helena Bonhan Carter, que conseguem conferir dignidade ao material. Mas o roteiro, ainda assim, não deixa de se sabotar: lá pelas tantas, depois de ter visto todo o primeiro ato com cortes meio estranhos do nosso protagonista salvando as crianças em diversas levas de trem, é curioso notar que, ao revelar o número de crianças salvas, nós também tenhamos sido pegos de surpresa, e isso é curioso porque o resgate já fora apresentado, ou seja, a imagem não deu conta de revelar a magnitude do feito.
Assim, é um filme que usa e abusa de legendas, um filme bem didático mesmo, feito para um público acompanhar de forma mastigada, e ainda conta com diálogos bem superficiais. Há uma tentativa de criar conflitos, mas que na "hora H" (durante a invasão alemã, no último trem), parece que o filme arrefeceu, podia ir muito além.
Portanto, a história em si mesmo tendo um grande peso, como cinema a obra tem várias falhas. Por mais que seja impossível não se emocionar, ficamos com a sensação de um filme clean demais considerando que se trata de um filme sobre crianças judias sobreviventes. Não diria que é um erro de Hopkins, uma vez que ele se sai muito bem, em especial no final do filme ao conviver com a dor e, ao mesmo tempo, renegar essa pose de herói. Mas ele merecia um roteiro muito melhor, sem dúvidas.
Report
Nicholas Winton was a young stock broker who rescued 669 children from **** Czechoslovakia. He's played by Johnny Flynn in the 30s and Anthony Hopkins in the 80s, when his deeds became known to the world. Both actors do a fine job and Hopkins has some especially moving moments. With a story like this you expect tragic drama from the scenes of struggling children. Unfortunately, as directed by James Hawes, the sad children never create much empathy. There's a bit of tension when the **** show up, but that's expected. The British are known for their restrained emotions and the choice to underplay leaves this film with an important story, but little dramatic heft to engage the emotions.
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Awards
Palm Springs International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Cinema for Peace Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
British Film Designers Guild Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
