SummaryTestament 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 w...
SummaryTestament 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 w...
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.
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’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.
Should you ever be tempted to wax nostalgic for an age in which wars were fought according to the laws of cause and effect and for reasons that may confidently be labeled “rational,” pick up Vera Brittain’s World War I memoir Testament of Youth or steel yourself for James Kent’s mournful, very fine new film starring Alicia Vikander as Brittain.
It’s a quiet, thoughtful and handsomely mounted film, offering another plum role to Alicia Vikander (“Ex Machina”) as Brittain. Vikander and the film take Britain, and Brittain, from idealism and hope to grim reality and regret.
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
The lesson the WWI taught us that we shouldn't let it fade away.
Kind of reminded me 'Atonement', but not a similar movie, except like you know the loved one goes to the war, serving a nurse in the army like stuffs. Actually, this one was a biopic of a young Vera Brittain that set in the England, 1914. Her wish becomes real to attend the university of Oxford, but at a same time the World War I breaks out and puts her dream to a pause while her beloved ones are fighting in the war. She fights her own way to save them and bring safely back home. For that she goes through many difficulties and by the time when war nears the end, the movie as well.
I felt it was a bit lengthy, but covers everything without racing towards the end by trimming all the important portions. It was an anti-war theme. It demonstrated the struggles that everyone who linked directly to the war would go through. Like parents, fiancee, siblings, friends who send their loved ones to the war. Especially how the young generations are affected by the sudden warfare. So like the title, Vera tells the story by recalling her memories. The film won't show the battles, but only a glimpse of a few seconds for a couple of times.
Alicia Vikander was at her best. She was quite impressive in the recent films of hers. I liked the filmed locations, some of the countryside landscapes were beautiful. The end scene is where it really breaks our heart, makes us to feel what Vera felt. The book which this movie was based on was a bestseller at that time, but was just a someone's story, although the world war two came. It is a good movie about a stupid war. The first major mistake by the man in the modern world, followed by another.
8/10
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 a stand-out year for her.
All the Sturm & Drang of World War I seems to be presented merely to show the beautiful face of Alicia Vickander going through emotions from A to B. A rather bloodless display of a lot of Lost Generation blood.