While reviewing recent films as disparate as Johnny, The Zone of Interest, and Cabrini, I was struck by the fact that each one, based as they are on the lives of real people, provides a timely reminder or a caution with regard to problems besetting all us today.
The caution is that we need to be on guard against the racism and other appalling ideologies threatening the very structures of our democratic society. The reminder is that each of us, in our own small way, needs to contribute to society, above all, by living out and preserving Christian attitudes and actions.
Now comes along another such movie which illustrates these messages superbly.
One Life tells the true story of Nicholas Winton, a moderately successful, middle-class stockbroker. When, in 1938, Winton became aware of Hitler’s designs on Czechoslovakia, he realized that among the likely victims of Hitler’s ruthless campaign were children.
While, clearly, thousands of others in Europe and beyond had the same information, Winton decided to do something about it. In large part the film One Life shows what he did, even though the odds were against him.
Perhaps, equally importantly, Winton’s campaign could only be successful if many others – equally ordinary people – subscribed to his cause; money had to be raised, for any child refugee needed not only a visa, but also a backing of 50 pounds sterling (a considerable amount of money at the time) and a sponsor who was willing to provide a home for each one.
As the film traces the story, it becomes a testimony to hundreds of people who were willing to respond to a call for benevolent and self-sacrificing action in a time of crisis.
Beyond this, the film also provides a remarkable framework, as many years later Winton’s actions became widely known, especially as his story was featured on a television program. This makes the film’s message even more salutary in that it reveals the full extent of Winton’s quietly heroic actions, as well as those of his many supporters.
The result is a film which offers many timely reminders, while at the same time being vastly entertaining. Often it is surprisingly truly comical, though in other scenes may move the viewer to tears.
Thanks to the fine acting of a cast that includes Anthony Hopkins as Winton and Helena Bonham Carter as his amusingly unstoppable mother, an excellent script which jumps brilliantly between two time periods, and James Hawes’ masterly direction, One Life should be regarded as essential viewing. I would like to say, “essential viewing for the whole family,” though in these days when apparently multitudes of children are being traumatized by being made aware of history’s negative moments, this may be a bridge too far for some parents.
However, as a truly inspiring account of what ordinary people can achieve (and the sad limits of that achievement) I cannot too enthusiastically recommend One Life.
It has the further advantage that, unlike so many marathon films today, it is only 110 minutes in length. Young people and adults should be able to tear themselves away from their social media platforms for that length of time!