Testament of Youth
Testament of Youth is a powerful story of love, war and remembrance, based on the First World War memoir by Vera Brittain, which has become the classic testimony of that war from a woman’s point of view. A searing journey from youthful hopes and dreams to the edge of despair and back again, it’s a film about young love, the futility of war and how to make sense of the darkest times.
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- Cast：
- Alicia Vikander , Kit Harington , Taron Egerton , Colin Morgan , Dominic West , Emily Watson , Hayley Atwell
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Reviews
Wonderful character development!
To me, this movie is perfection.
the audience applauded
Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.
A British woman recalls coming of age during World War I - a story of young love, the futility of war, and how to make sense of the darkest times. Vikander's and Harrigton's terrible love chemistry and the whole World War I plot that goes nowhere is what makes Testament of Youth a boring and bland love drama that doesn't do things different or keeps the viewer entertained. (0/10)
A coming-of-age story needs a good dramatic contrast of before/after. Unfortunately, there's not nearly enough in this film. For all the beautiful detail (wonderful locations, costumes, interiors, etc.), the film feels flat. This Vera Brittain is angry and miserable at the beginning, angry and miserable in the middle, and angry and miserable at the end. It would have helped a lot if there had been more warmth, idealism, and happiness in the "before" sections. The male characters manage this, but Vikander fell flat, for me. For viewers to care about Vera, she needs to be somewhat likable and sympathetic. Instead she seems to have a chip on her shoulder throughout. I would have been more engaged in the story if there had been some range in her acting.
Vera Brittain (Alicia Vikander) wants to go to Oxford but her parents (Dominic West, Emily Watson) wants her to look for a husband. Her brother Edward (Taron Egerton), and friends Victor Richardson (Colin Morgan) and Roland Leighton (Kit Harington) all adore her. Vera falls for Roland and gets accepted to Somerville College, Oxford. As WWI approaches, her guys all volunteer. She convinces her father to let Edward enlist. She defers college and volunteers to be a nurse.It has a slow period-piece start. It's got a nice hazy moody feel. Vikander is great but the guys need more exposition. They don't have enough space to show their characters. It's a slow burn and it's all concentrated on Vikander. She wins me over slowly. She has great sadness. It has very poignant moments especially in the later parts.
Gorgeous, yes. But also achingly sad and melancholy. It is a powerful love story and a good war movie. It is a tearjerker indeed but a very classy and human one. But the overpowering element is the cinematography. The whole story is drawn with brilliant photographic brush work on a wide, warm toned canvas with mood, texture and atmosphere that captures so beautifully what Britain must have been like during those ugly years. They also have done a meticulous job with props, costumes and settings, everything from flowered hats and period writing pens to stately homes and vintage ambulances. Most impressive are the many wonderful railway scenes with interior and exterior views of stations, wagons, locomotives and rights of way. A superb film. Just keep some tissues handy.
