Nicholas Winton is a name not well known outside of the UK. His story, however, should be. This film will certainly raise awareness of how he played an integral part in saving the lives of almost 700 Czechoslovakian children comprised of mostly Jewish descent (there were some children of Czech politicians deemed as enemies by Germany) by organizing their transport to English families willing to provide homes for these refugees. Otherwise, they faced certain death as was the case for most of their parents left behind It was a thankless up-hill task Winton, along with an equally selfless group of young people, took on with dogged determination. The British Parliament seemed absent from stepping up leaving the mission on the shoulders of these brave souls which Winton ended up spearheading.
So as an American whose father fought in WW II, I welcome all stories from this time, especially gripping ones exposing the best of humanity in the face of Nazi genocide. In simple terms this is a very moving story with implications right now the world needs to learn from.
For the movie itself, well, it's fairly low-key. Not a bombastic reliving of actual gore. Rather it tells the story of Nicholas Winton. It does so in two timelines that are visited back and forth. First, we meet Winton, played by Sir Anthony Hopkins as an elderly man with unfinished business in the late eighties. The seriousness of Winton's emotional state is expertly depicted by this master thespian. The man isn't morose, but he's still got a lot on his mind regarding his past. He's gentile, but focused in that he wants this to be a living lesson to humanity for all time never to be forgotten. The young Winton of the late thirties is portrayed by Johnny Flynn. Successful as a stock broker he has things far larger than money on his mind. Flynn gives a warm yet serious feel to a man driven by a strong moral code fighting hard upstream for what he knows needs to be done. Helena Bonham Carter, as young Winton's mother, also turns in nice characterization of a upper class woman who chooses to fight for the cause with UK politicians over petty social class matters These are seriously good people whose stories are well laid out by the cast.
For the star power on display this is actually a lower budget movie that never feels like it. Everything is well done without theatrics or bombast. Period costumes and sets, especially the look of the children who the film is really about, is spot-on. The cinematography is slightly sepiia toned in the thirties and modern in the late eighties as it should be. It gets out of the way for the most part and feels right. In the end this is a movie of some importance with a cause that the work depicted here isn't finished. What will it take for our fellow humans to stop killing innocent children and oppressing those we see as "different"? Perhaps watching this will help in that cause. Most assuredly a story we should all know about and learn from.
So as an American whose father fought in WW II, I welcome all stories from this time, especially gripping ones exposing the best of humanity in the face of Nazi genocide. In simple terms this is a very moving story with implications right now the world needs to learn from.
For the movie itself, well, it's fairly low-key. Not a bombastic reliving of actual gore. Rather it tells the story of Nicholas Winton. It does so in two timelines that are visited back and forth. First, we meet Winton, played by Sir Anthony Hopkins as an elderly man with unfinished business in the late eighties. The seriousness of Winton's emotional state is expertly depicted by this master thespian. The man isn't morose, but he's still got a lot on his mind regarding his past. He's gentile, but focused in that he wants this to be a living lesson to humanity for all time never to be forgotten. The young Winton of the late thirties is portrayed by Johnny Flynn. Successful as a stock broker he has things far larger than money on his mind. Flynn gives a warm yet serious feel to a man driven by a strong moral code fighting hard upstream for what he knows needs to be done. Helena Bonham Carter, as young Winton's mother, also turns in nice characterization of a upper class woman who chooses to fight for the cause with UK politicians over petty social class matters These are seriously good people whose stories are well laid out by the cast.
For the star power on display this is actually a lower budget movie that never feels like it. Everything is well done without theatrics or bombast. Period costumes and sets, especially the look of the children who the film is really about, is spot-on. The cinematography is slightly sepiia toned in the thirties and modern in the late eighties as it should be. It gets out of the way for the most part and feels right. In the end this is a movie of some importance with a cause that the work depicted here isn't finished. What will it take for our fellow humans to stop killing innocent children and oppressing those we see as "different"? Perhaps watching this will help in that cause. Most assuredly a story we should all know about and learn from.