“One Life” is the story of dedicated volunteers in 1938 Prague attempting to whisk children (mostly Jewish) to safety in Britain by train with Nicholas “Nicky” Winton pressuring the British bureaucracy to issue exit visas to the children. Of course, being bureaucrats, they insisted 50 £ be posted as return money to return the children to their parents after the war ended. Winton also had to line up foster parents for the children.
Sudetenland was part of Czechoslovakia and neighboured Germany. Hoping to avoid war with Hitler it was ceded to Germany in 1938 which was an ominous omen for many Jews who had escaped, Austria and Germany to the “safety” of Czechoslovakia. The German invasion of Poland and occupation of Prague shut the door on further “rescues” of children from Prague.
Fearing the anticipated German occupation of Prague Winton managed to arrange for the evacuation of 669 children to the waiting arms of British foster parents. The young Nicky Winton (Johnny Flynn) worked tirelessly with Czech volunteers. The older Nicky (Anthony Hopkins) never wishes any praise for his work but in a poignant and emotional moment realizes what a tremendous task he has accomplished which is the most forceful scene in the film. This late self realization then mushrooms to national prominence through segments on a rather flitty and vacuous BBC television show “That’s Life”.
The film sputters initially like Hopkins shuffling about in a distracted fashion. It is the young Nicky that brings the film to life with some impressive period costuming. Lena Olin as the older Nicky’s wife seems ill cast and ill attired. Helena Bonham Carter as Nicky’s wife fails to impress. Hopkins is excellent as usual but as for script is given little to work with. If I see him readjusting his glasses one more time I will scream. It is Johnny Flynn’s film!
Director James Hawes.
Canadian theatrical release 14March2024.
RKS 2024 Film Rating 83/100.
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