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One Life
2023 109 min Australia, United Kingdom PG 18+
★8.0
History, Drama
Director: James Hawes
Trailers
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Teaser
Teaser
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Description
British stockbroker Nicholas Winton visits Czechoslovakia in the 1930s and forms plans to assist in the rescue of Jewish children before the onset of World War II, in an operation that came to be known as the Kindertransport.
US Gross:
$5.72M
Worldwide:
$51.44M
Starring
Anthony Hopkins
Actor
Lena Olin
Actor
Johnny Flynn
Actor
Awards
3 wins & 2 nominations total
Key opinion
One Life is a deeply affecting and restrained historical drama that centers on the selfless rescue of Jewish children by Nicholas Winton. While some critics find the narrative predictable or slow, audiences and reviewers alike praise the film's quiet, human-centric approach and Sir Anthony Hopkins' poignant performance.
| Acting | Anthony Hopkins anchors the film with a masterful, restrained, and deeply moving performance that captures the protagonist's profound humility. | |
| Theme | The film effectively avoids manipulative sentimentality, choosing instead to focus on the intimate, human scale of Winton's moral choices. | |
| Acting | The casting of Johnny Flynn as the younger Winton is widely praised for its seamless resonance with Hopkins' portrayal of the older character. | |
| Pacing | Opinions on the film's pacing are split; some viewers find the steady, quiet tempo immersive and necessary for emotional buildup, while others feel the first half is sluggish and talky. | |
| Emotion | The emotional impact is debated; while many find the climax cathartic and tear-inducing, others argue that the narrative lacks the intensity or lasting cinematic weight of similar historical epics like Schindler's List. |