How I Live Now (2013)

An American girl, sent to the English countryside to stay with relatives, finds love and purpose while fighting for her survival as war envelops the world around her.

Director:

Kevin Macdonald

Writers:

Meg Rosoff (based on the novel by), Jeremy Brock (screenplay by)

Stars:

Saoirse Ronan, Tom Holland, George MacKay

1 win & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Saoirse Ronan	...	Daisy
Tom Holland	...	Isaac
George MacKay	...	Eddie
Harley Bird	...	Piper
Danny McEvoy	...	Joe
Anna Chancellor	...	Aunt Penn
Jonathan Rugman	...	News Reporter
Corey Johnson	...	Consular Official
Darren Morfitt	...	Sergeant
Stella Gonet	...	Mrs. McEvoy
Des McAleer	...	Major McEvoy
Sophie Stanton	...	Woman in Truck
Natasha Jonas	...	Woman in Truck
Nav Sidhu	...	Checkpoint Soldier
Amy Dawson	...	Beaten Woman

Storyline

American teenager Elizabeth "Daisy" is sent by her estranged father away from New York to the countryside of England to stay with her Aunt Penn. Her distant cousin Isaac welcomes her at the airport and drives her home. She is introduced to her cousins, seventeen year-old Eddie and young Piper and to their friend Joe. However Daisy is a resentful, needy of love and aloof girl who believes that she is cursed and that bad things happen wherever she goes since her mother died in her delivery. Aunt Penn is a busy woman who is studying the war scenario in England, which is on alert due to an imminent terrorist attack, and needs to fly to Geneva. However, the next morning, a nuclear bomb explodes in London and the authorities of the United Kingdom declare a state of siege. Meanwhile Daisy and Eddie fall in love with each other, but they are separated by the military, which sends girls to one camp and men to another. Daisy and Eddie promise to meet each other again. In a country at war, Daisy...

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Plot Keywords:

survival | nuclear fallout | nuclear explosion | cousin cousin relationship | england | 

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Taglines:

Love will lead you home.

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Genres:

Romance | Sci-Fi | Thriller | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, disturbing images, language and some sexuality.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 October 2013 (UK)

Also Known As:

Mi vida ahora

Filming Locations:

Wales, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$28,547, 8 November 2013, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$60,213, 1 December 2013

Company Credits

Production Co:

BFI Film Fund, Cowboy Films, Film4

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Aerial shots were filmed with a Canon EOS C300 strapped to an opticopter/drone: "We were a small-budget film; we couldn't afford a helicopter and we couldn't wait for the weather," said director Kevin Macdonald. "There were a few shots in the film which were filmed with these adapted toys, and they have to have a lightweight camera. The Canon [C300] is at the top end of the weight they can manage, but we got some great aerial shots, which we use quite often in the film. That was a real bonus that you couldn't have got with any other camera."[2013]

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Quotes

[first lines]
Daisy: Imagine yourself being successful.

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Connections

Featured in Projector: How I Live Now (2013)

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Soundtracks

Home
Performed by Daughter

User Reviews

Engrossing and superbly acted story of young romance and survival during war

Didn't know quite what to expect from this but was quickly captivated by this film. Saoirse Ronan gives a superb performance and really holds the film together. Initially its a fish out of water story about Saoirse Ronan's character, a difficult but intriguing American teen landing into an eccentric English rural family who live on a remote farm. She quickly starts to fall for her handsome cousin but then world events intervene as a nuclear device is detonated in London and the film shows them dealing with the new reality of soldiers at the door, mass evacuation and the family being split up. The depiction of what UK would be like under martial law, with guerrilla attacks, forced labor camps and a society breaking down was both chilling and fascinating. Ultimately, it becomes a survival story as Saoirse Ronan's character tries to get back to the farm and she has to make her way through the nightmarish landscape of an England descending into chaos. With a great soundtrack and many poignant moments, this is a well crafted film on all fronts. Recommended.