One Life (2023 film)

One Life

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	2023
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Biographical drama film
Parent	Warner Bros. Pictures, Bleecker Street (distributors)

One Life is a 2023 biographical drama directed by James Hawes. The movie tells the true story of British humanitarian Nicholas Winton, alternating between Anthony Hopkins portraying Winton at age 79 as he reflects on his past, and Johnny Flynn depicting Winton at 29, who orchestrated the rescue of 669 mostly Jewish children from German-occupied Czechoslovakia during 1938–39, prior to the outbreak of World War II. The supporting cast features Helena Bonham Carter, Lena Olin, Romola Garai, Alex Sharp, and Jonathan Pryce.

One Life debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2023, followed by its European premiere at the London Film Festival. The film was released in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2024 by Warner Bros. Pictures and later in the United States on 15 March 2024 through Bleecker Street. It earned $56.4 million globally and garnered favorable reviews, with particular acclaim for the performances of Hopkins and Bonham Carter.

Plot

In 1938, shortly after the Munich Agreement, 29-year-old London stockbroker Nicholas Winton travels to Czechoslovakia, where he encounters Jewish families in Prague living under dire conditions and fearing Nazi occupation. There, he meets Doreen Warriner, leader of the British Committee for Refugees from Czechoslovakia (BCRC), inspiring him to take action.

With encouragement from his mother Babette, a German-Jewish immigrant, Winton navigates bureaucratic challenges, secures funding, and arranges foster homes in England for children facing imminent deportation. His mission is a race against time before Nazi borders close.

Fast forward fifty years to 1988, Winton discovers documents detailing his rescue operations and those saved. Although he contemplates donating these records to a Holocaust museum, he chooses instead to focus on current refugee crises by continuing his humanitarian efforts.

These documents come into the hands of the BBC’s That's Life! show hosted by Esther Rantzen. Invited to appear on the program, Winton is astonished when several of the children he rescued join him. The overwhelming public reaction results in a follow-up episode revealing that over 6,000 lives were saved thanks to his work.

Production

In September 2020, it was announced that Anthony Hopkins and Johnny Flynn would star in One Life, a biographical film about Sir Nicholas Winton. The screenplay, penned by Lucinda Coxon and Nick Drake, was originally set to be directed by Aisling Walsh with production led by See-Saw Films and BBC Film. Executive producers included Rose Garnett and Simon Gillis, while producers Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, and Joanna Laurie also participated. International sales were managed by FilmNation Entertainment and Cross City Films. By September 2022, James Hawes assumed directing responsibilities for his feature debut; Helena Bonham Carter joined as Babi Winton; Guy Heeley became a producer; and the script was adapted from Barbara Winton’s biography If It’s Not Impossible…The Life of Sir Nicholas Winton. Additional cast members confirmed were Jonathan Pryce, Romola Garai, and Alex Sharp. Filming took place in London and Prague during late 2022.

Winton’s daughter specifically requested Anthony Hopkins for the lead role; after reviewing the script, he agreed to participate. Winton’s son praised Hopkins’ depiction of his father, while survivors described the film as a “fitting tribute.” Notably, some extras portraying audience members in recreated scenes were actual children saved through Winton’s efforts.

Critical response

Ian Freer, writing for Time Out, described the film as a "notable World War II narrative presented in a traditional manner but enhanced by an outstanding performance from Anthony Hopkins". Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian referred to it as an "exceptional true account" that resonates deeply on an emotional level. Meanwhile, Wendy Ide of The Observer awarded the film three stars out of five.

Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph gave the movie a four-star rating. Deborah Ross, contributing to The Spectator, commended the film for its thematic depth, acting quality, and overall message. Clarisse Loughrey from The Independent offered a more mixed critique but acknowledged Hopkins' portrayal as a highlight.

Matthew Reisz, also writing for The Guardian and whose father was among those rescued by Winton, expressed disappointment with the film, arguing that it misrepresented Winton’s legacy. In contrast, Nicola Gissing, another descendant, publicly defended the film’s depiction.

Controversy

While Nicholas Winton's efforts were chiefly focused on saving Jewish children, the BBC Film website initially failed to mention this aspect. Consequently, UK cinema promoters for One Life described the rescue mission as one that saved "children from Central Europe." Following public objections, BBC Film revised their description to clarify that Winton primarily rescued "predominantly Jewish" children.

Accolades

One Life was honored with the 2024 Cinema for Peace Dove Award, recognizing it as The Most Valuable Film of the Year in Berlin.