The new series for Reel Mondays is all spooled to start with a marvelous little British period drama based on one woman’s real life experiences around the First World War. Testament of Youth is writer Vera Brittain’s autobiographical tale of her life as a young woman. She was 21 when the Great War broke out, and everything changed around her.
Brittain (portrayed in the film by Alicia Vikander) has a charming if staid life with her brother Edward (Taron Egerton), her fiancé Roland Leighton (Kit Harington), and their friends Victor (Colin Morgan), and Geoffrey (Jonathan Bailey). She and Edward are devoted and inseparable siblings but war rips through all relationships indiscriminately.
While the young men go off to fight, she finds her own path. Rather than feeling comfortable and safe in her quiet little existence, she instead applies to Oxford despite being woefully ill prepared even for the admissions exam.
University life still doesn’t seem to suit her and so she moves on to become a volunteer nurse in order to serve the military effort as best she can. War is hell, she soon finds out firsthand. While the movie doesn’t get into too much grotesque detail, we do see the emotional toll that it takes on her.
Brittain, for those who aren’t familiar with her story, goes on to become a prominent peace activist and author, notable not just for the book upon which this film was based but also as a poet, novelist and magazine columnist. Vikander’s loving portrayal shows her as a dedicated, determined and headstrong person in her early 20s trying to figure her way through a world in turmoil and figure herself out at the same time too.
The fine ensemble cast also includes Dominic West and the stellar Miranda Richardson and Emily Watson, two of the most accomplished and studious actresses out there.
Testament of Youth is a charming film: an affecting drama filled with great acting and smart dialogue. It might be a tad slow for many North Americans who are used to fast cuts and flashy scenes but sit through this film and you won’t be disappointed. The depth of Brittain’s emotions and humanitarianism is evident through every one of Vikander’s words and looks. It makes me already wish for film adaptations of Brittain’s further autobiographical tales: Testament of Friendship and Testament of Experience.
Review
Testament of Youth<br />Stars: 4.5<br />Starring Alicia Vikander, Kit Harington, Taron Egerton, Colin Morgan, Emily Watson, Hayley Atwell, Jonathan Bailey, Dominic West, and Miranda Richardson<br />Directed by James Kent<br />Written by Juliette Towhidi<br />Rated: PG for violence, mature subject matter, and tobacco use<br />Runtime: 130 minutes<br />Testament of Youth screens on Monday at 7 p.m. at the Arden Theatre as part of the library’s Reel Mondays fundraiser. All proceeds go towards producing the St. Albert Readers’ Festival, also known as STARFest.<br />Tickets are $55 for all five of this season’s selections or $15 per film. They can be purchased at the customer service desk at the St. Albert Public Library. Call 780-459-1530 or visit www.sapl.ca for more information.
