We have another exceptional movie coming your way this weekend.
One Life is a biopic about Sir Nicholas Winton, known as the British Schindler, and the vast and lasting influence of his pre-Second World War endeavours to save innocent children from Nazi persecution.
Starring Anthony Hopkins as the older Winton and rising British star Johnny Flynn as the younger, the film spans two time periods 50 years apart.
In 1938, amidst Hitler’s growing hold on eastern Europe, a 29-year-old Nicholas, out of a sense of moral duty, took leave from his job to spend nine months on a mission to evacuate hundreds of at-risk Czechoslovakian children. Against unfathomable odds, he worked tirelessly to overcome bureaucratic and political obstacles to try to arrange transport for the children and find UK families who would agree to adopt them. He saved 669 children.
Fast forward to 1988 and Nicholas Winton still wishes he could have done more. After 50 years of anonymity, he’s made famous when he gets invited to appear on the BBC1 show “That’s Life” to speak about his secret rescue of the children. As the host informed viewers of her guest’s remarkable heroism, he was introduced to women seated on either side of him whose lives he had saved. It’s been called one of the most breathtaking moments of 20th Century television. Finally Nicholas Winton realized the immense impact of his efforts.
One Life is a moving portrait of human goodness — someone doing something heroic for no glory or acclaim. Don’t miss it.
One Life plays four times this weekend (April 19-21): Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 4 and 7:30 at the Salmar Classic.
Read more: Shuswap Film Society: American Fiction, a film of race and hypocrisy