Based on Barbara Winton's book "If It's Not Impossible... The Life of Sir Nicholas Winton," James Hawes expertly directs One Life, aided with a screenplay adaptation by Lucinda Coxon and Nick Drake. The story portrayed on the big screen is enhanced by marvelous performances by Johnny Flynn and Anthony Hopkins, both who play the lead character in such a sincere and heartfelt manner that the audience quickly becomes mesmerized with one Nicky Winton.
An elderly yet acutely aware Nicky Winton (Hopkins), a former banker, has collected many belongings over the years, and many memories as well. While his wife (Lena Olin) is briefly out of town, he decides to do some organizing, going through a scrapbook filled with the emotions of a past life in the process. This younger life is during the late 1930s in which he (Flynn) led a group of likeminded individuals in a pursuit of securing the freedom of thousands of Jewish children, on the brink of having their lives confiscated by invading Nazi troops in the Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia. As a result of these heroic actions, multiple trainloads with dozens and dozens of children, left Prague after having separated from their parents in the hope of a better life and then an eventual reunification. With these escapes came danger and suspense, and with the Third Reich's soon-to-be invasion of Poland, it meant that one of these train rides would be the last one to leave the station; and thus, it would be impossible to rescue them all.
One Life is a film based on a true story, and this account is told exceptionally well. It highlights the fact that it took great teamwork to achieve success. Yes, Nicky Winton made it happen, but it wasn't without the efforts of other dedicated people, including his mother, that saw hundreds of children be able to survive what would soon become a gruesome time period in the Czechoslovakian capital. Hawes never loses the audience in rehashing the events. Flashbacks in Nicky's life are seamless and perfectly orchestrated. The casting is an absolute triumph from the main characters to the children, to the smaller roles. Even the lone scene with Jonathan Pryce (alongside Hopkins) comes across as effortless as it is genuine. The script is solid, the set is on point, and the photography is tremendous. The only thing the film asks of its audience is to listen from the onset. Once viewers make this commitment, they will be engaged throughout this captivating and powerful historical drama.
For moviegoers who are fans of the genre, this is definitely one to check off the list. It ranks among the best in recent times. With such a compelling story, fine acting performances, and steady direction, One Life has much to praise and very little to putdown. The emotional value cashes in well before the end credits roll, ensuring audiences share one feeling: appreciation.