Testament of Youth

Name: Testament of Youth
Genre: Biography, Drama, History, War
Released: June 5, 2015
Duration: 129 min
Rating: 76
Cast: Alicia Vikander, Colin Morgan, Dominic West, Emily Watson, Kit Harington

2015

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Generally favorable reviews based on 34 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 53 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 53 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: June 5, 2015 | PG-13

Starring: Alicia Vikander, Colin Morgan, Dominic West, Emily Watson, Kit Harington, Taron Egerton

Summary: Testament of Youth is a powerful story of love, war and remembrance, based on the First World War memoir by Vera Brittain, which has become the classic testimony of that war from a woman's point of view. A searing journey from youthful hopes and dreams to the edge of despair and back again, it's a film about young love, the futility of warTestament of Youth is a powerful story of love, war and remembrance, based on the First World War memoir by Vera Brittain, which has become the classic testimony of that war from a woman's point of view. A searing journey from youthful hopes and dreams to the edge of despair and back again, it's a film about young love, the futility of war and how to make sense of the darkest times. [Sony Pictures Classics]… Expand

Director: James Kent

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, History, War

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 129 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Kenneth Turan

Jun 4, 2015

Unapologetically emotional and impeccably made in the classic manner, it tells the kind of potent, many-sided story whose unforeseen complexities can come only courtesy of a life that lived them all. Read full review

Guy Lodge

Jun 2, 2015

Deftly balancing restrained sentimentalism with tough-minded human tragedy, this impressive, unashamedly classical feature debut by TV helmer James Kent has the populist heft one expects from producer David Heyman, while preserving the solemn intimacy of Brittain’s account of lives and loves severed by the conflict. Read full review

Peter Rainer

Jun 5, 2015

Has the stately picturesqueness of old-fashioned “quality” British cinema. At its center, though, is a performance that cuts right through the decorum. Read full review

The Telegraph Tim Robey

Jan 12, 2015

As a film, Testament of Youth glimmers with sadness, but also the apprehension of sadness: we know not all of these boys are coming back. Read full review

Timothy E. Raw

Jun 2, 2015

The film's inferno of horrors are undoubtedly visceral, but psychologically implosive rather than entrails-exploding. Read full review

Kimberley Jones

Jul 3, 2015

It’s muddy, bloody, and studded with amputated limbs, yet still rather generic-feeling; it lacks the visceral impact of Joe Wright’s version of Western Front atrocities in "Atonement." Read full review

Keith Uhlich

Jun 3, 2015

There’s a good movie in Brittain’s story, but you wouldn’t know it from this lethargic, BBC-produced bore. Read full review

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User Reviews

foxgrove

Jun 5, 2015

In every sense of the word this is a beautiful adaptation of Vera Brittain’s memoir of the First World War. It delineates her struggle as a woman to go to University in Oxford and of her relationships with three men (her brother, fiancé and friend) all of whom become casualties of war’sIn every sense of the word this is a beautiful adaptation of Vera Brittain’s memoir of the First World War. It delineates her struggle as a woman to go to University in Oxford and of her relationships with three men (her brother, fiancé and friend) all of whom become casualties of war’s inevitable consequence. Director James Kent composes each frame beautifully and many scenes look like pictures that have come to life, although in the best sense, as there are not endless shots of scenery just for the sake of it. Particularly effective are moments towards the end as the camera takes in all the places the four friends used to visit. Only now, of course, there is no one there. These poignant moments are very moving and speak volumes without the need for words.
In the lead role of Vera, Danish actress Alicia Vikander is outstanding. Her delicate performance is pitched at just the right level. Full of spirit and determination the actress never resorts to grandstanding or histrionics to make the character breathe. A great supporting cast of known actors flit in and out, but without unbalancing the deliberate and subtle tone.
Production Design and costumes are sublime as well as being appropriate and the score is just lovely, contributing greatly to the emotional impact the tragic story generates. The editing style successfully cuts to Vera’s thoughts and memories from time to time but never loses the rhythm of the basic narrative. For lovers of great stories wonderfully told this is a must see.… Expand

5 of 5 users found this helpful50

JonSnow2049

Aug 20, 2019

Amazing ani-military drama. As a film, Testament of Youth glimmers with sadness, but also the apprehension of sadness. This film impressed me.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

mikemac

Aug 25, 2015

a great movie you can tell Hollywood didn't have their hands in this one no big special effects no part 1,2,3 just an enjoyable movie to watch and it effectively shows the bad about going to any wars

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

DawdlingPoet

Nov 24, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a period drama film, covering themes or subject areas including war (although it is admittedly more of a background topic - more on this later) independence, hope and romance. To start with, I felt this film seemed visually and audibly quite 'rose tinted', somewhat over sentimental, due to the light piano and harp pieces which are slightly haunting in tone and played in the background, while the skyline looked rather plump and blurry - as if the camera which filmed it had steamed up, only primarily at the top and not so much lower down in shots, where the characters are shown. It gave the earlier scenes a sort of dream like feeling, I'd say. There was a fairly strong sense of optimism I picked up on from the start. I felt that Vera Brittain was an easy character to hope the best for, to root for as the Americans may say. I could understand her wish to live life the way she wanted, for her to be given the chance to make her own successes. It felt quite frustrating how her family (and indeed wider society at that time) regarded her life choices and the like. It made me think about how far society has come in the last 100 years or so. I liked the cinematography - there are numerous impressive camera angles used to create quite beautiful shots. Of course this is very bittersweet as when the war inevitably breaks out, things take a turn for the much more dark and it made me think how we should perhaps stop and think about the simple beauty of nature, of everyday things, which perhaps are taken for granted a bit. Haunting is a term that I feel applies in part due to the camerawork and cinematography. Maybe you could argue that I am being a bit 'airy fairy' but this film is definitely one that sits comfortably in the 'period drama/war/romance' sub-categories (or genres), as mentioned), so if you cringe at sentimentality, then this is likely not for you. Cast wise, Alicia Vikander plays Vera Brittain. I really liked her determination and/or her self-assuredness - she's quite strong minded and I like to think that women who had to deal with being regarded as the lesser gender at that time, were able to challenge things and stand up for themselves. I felt that Alicia played her role well - Vera seemed like role model material to me. Meanwhile, Kit Harrington plays Roland Leighton, Vera's partner. The two of them did seem genuinely very much 'smitten' and like a well matched couple, in the throes of young love. Other cast members include Taron Egerton who plays Edward, Veras brother, while Dominic West plays Veras father and Emily Watson plays her mother. Also present are Joanna Scanlon as Aunt Belle and Miranda Richardson as Miss Lorimer.

It is very much an emotive, fairly powerful film on war, in terms of the effects it can have on everyday citizens, although I should point out that it doesn't depict battle scenes themselves in any extended detail. It is a film which may require some tissues, if your liable to get teary eyed at such types of film (so don't say I didn't warn you). I felt it was quite well put across, in terms of featuring decent character development and putting the environment the main characters are in, in to context regarding way of life at the time its set.

Content wise, this film features some violence, although primarily its the results after battle scenes which are shown in any kind of detail and this does (again inevitably) feature quite a heavy amount of blood. There are scenes which feature wounded soldiers being treated and which are naturally somewhat frightening and harrowing, so this wouldn't be something for very young viewers to watch. Indeed the films themes are somewhat mature and there is a sadness to the film. The film has been given a 12 rating to reflect this.

I felt this film was well made, primarily due to the decent performances and a good use of the musical score, plus some admirable cinematography. It doesn't glorify war and it is, I suppose, a bit frustratingly one sided as far as the plot is concerned but then given its based on on a memoir, thats quite understandable. It may not suit everyone but for what it is, its certainly a decent watch - a relatively thought provoking one at that.

Yes, overall I would recommend this film. It features decent performances by the main cast, a good use of classical music in the musical score and I felt the plot was quite well paced. I found it an interesting watch - rather bittersweet at times and fairly thought provoking, I'd say its worth a watch. However, if you really don't like overly sentimental films, or period dramas with much romance in it, then this would likely render this title better avoided but for me, I thought it was good and I'll recommend it on that basis.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

AliceofX

Jun 9, 2015

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Testament of Youth is one of those dramas that manages to rise above the usual mediocrities enough that you can call it good, but not enough that you can say anything more about it. It is by no means a bad film, but there is nothing great about it, nothing that would make it one of the Must See films of the year.

The biggest problem, which I realized this year while watching Wild, is that a 2 hour film is not a good medium for biographies that try to capture an entire person's life. Things move too fast, there is no time for gradual change to happen.

Vikander's Vera appears to be on the same emotional tone through out the film and that is probably my biggest complaint about the film in that it is lacking a contrast about life before and after the War.

But with the negative out I don't want to give the appearance that I did not like the film. It was a steady drama, albeit more on a TV movie level rather than cinema, with characters that felt like real people.

My favourite parts are those at the end where we see Vera overcome by her grief and loss, incapable to see how to go on. The clip shown at the beginning is arguably the best of the film.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

beingryanjude

Jun 28, 2015

An honorable and intimate adaptation of Vera Brittain's wartime experiences which would forever haunt her. The film is full of both beauty and grief - a blend which is occasionally off-putting. Nevertheless, Alicia Vikander adds another notable performance in what is already sure to her aAn honorable and intimate adaptation of Vera Brittain's wartime experiences which would forever haunt her. The film is full of both beauty and grief - a blend which is occasionally off-putting. Nevertheless, Alicia Vikander adds another notable performance in what is already sure to her a stand-out year for her.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

swing

Jun 16, 2015

Sorry. The acting was great, but the story so depressing and the movie moved so slowly. I wanted to love it it but couldn't. It didn't entertain me.

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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