There’s something extraordinary about those who are ordinary.
In One Life, we are introduced to Nicholas Winton (Johnny Flynn), a young London stock broker whose life is changed upon a trip to Prague in December 1938. With the Nazis wreaking havoc in Europe, Winton is stunned to see the lives of countless children who have been cast aside to the streets. Working with a team of friends, Winton decides works tirelessly to help these refugee children to emigrate to England. Even so, 50 years later, Winton (Hopkins) still is burdened by those he could not help and he seeks to get their story told.
Directed by James Hawes, One Life shows the impact that one person can have, even in the midst of a violent world. In the story of Nicholas Winton, Hawes has a truly remarkable tale to tell. Not unlike Spielberg‘s Schindler‘s List, this unbelievable story of heroism speak to the impact that a person can have solely when they try to do the right thing.
What’s interesting about this Life though is it splintered narrative. Many films before have featured characters who reflect back on their lives that they have lived. But Hawes wisely puts as great in emphasis on the modern day as he does on the past. While the heighten drama takes place in his youth, the emotional burden of history clearly weighs upon Winton. This provides Hopkins an incredible opportunity to showcase His skill as an actor. Now in his mid 80s, Hopkins seems to have rediscovered his energy as an actor. (Remember, it was only three short years ago that he won an Oscar for his performance in The Father.] In One Life, Hopkins again proves to be the perfect choice for the role as he bring his character to life with humility and grace.
Even though this is a film that takes place in both 1939 and 1987, One Life absolutely feels current. In many ways, stories of refugees seeking safe harbour from tyrannical rule are just as easily ripped from the headlines today as they were during the Second World War. As such, One Life never feels less than urgent in our modern context as it celebrates the importance of human life in the face of adversity.
But the true beauty of this film lies in the impact of the ‘ordinary’. Despite the number of children that he’s saved, Winton never believes himself to be anything other than average. (For example, when he’s challenged about his faith in ordinary people, he simply responds, “I do. Because I am an ordinary person.”) To him, this is not an act of heroism, but simply one of humanity. Winto believes that his effors are simply part of his personal responsibility as a human being. Winton’s attempts to tell the story of these children without raising his hand and pointing to himself. Amazingly, he seeks no glory. Instead, he seeks only to honour the lives of these children.
To Winton, every child truly does matter.
In fact, in this way, Winton’s passion for helping these children still encumbers his soul. Although he has saved numerous people, it’s the lives that he does not save that he cannot shake. They are the ghosts that he has never seen—and they continue to haunt him. Yet, even though there are others he could not reach, One Life still shows that the ripples of Winton’s work continue to resonate.
Because one can never know the lasting effects of ordinary people until time has passed.
One Life is available in theatres on Friday, March 15th, 2024.
