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Testament of Youth

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Alicia Vikander and Kit Harington in Testament of Youth (BBC, British Film Institute)
Alicia Vikander and Kit Harington in Testament of Youth (BBC, British Film Institute)

What it's about:

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.

What we thought:


The most challenging part of this British period drama is getting used to seeing Kit Harrington with short hair. Even none Game of Thrones fans will struggle to get the Jon Snow image out of their heads.

Once you get over that little obstacle the film artfully pulls you into the horror that was the First World War. Based on the real-life memoir of Vera Brittain, Testament of Youth tells the story of WWI through a woman’s point of view.

Alicia Vikander, as Vera, skillfully brought to the big screen the heartbreaking loss of innocence for a whole generation that were forced to grow up far too quickly. Her sensitive portrayal of youth lost moves the viewer to the brink of tears as love, life and death all dangerously dance together.

Visually soft on the eye whilst exposing the most gruesome of scenes, the film succeeds in skillfully exploring a side of the Great War that we seldom get to see in other film adaptations as a British woman recalls coming of age during the darkest of times.

Apart from Vikander the performances by Taron Egerton, Colin Morgan and Harrington all contribute to the success of the film and its understated realness.

Egerton, from Kingsman fame, brings with his powerful performance a plotline that was perhaps not that upfront in the book. Edward’s sexuality plays out much more openly in the film adaptation and as a subplot tells another touching tale of love in a time of war.

Testament of Youth is undoubtedly worth your time and money.

It’s a graceful film that delicately explores dark themes and the real-life hell that robbed a whole generation of their one chance to experience the beauty, freedom and joy of being young.

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