Anthony Hopkins portrays the “British Schindler” himself, Nicholas ‘Nicky’ Winton, in ONE LIFE, a true story about the little-known hero of World War II. Courtesy of Bleecker Street.For 50 years, the world nearly forgot about Nicholas ‘Nicky’ Winton. In 1988, Winton, now an elderly man, attended a live taping of the BBC programme That’s Life. The hosts discussed Winton’s efforts in transporting 669 children, most of them Jewish, from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia to the UK before the start of the Second World War. At one point, one of the hosts asked anyone in the audience to stand up if they “owed their life” to the man. To Winton’s complete surprise, rows of people rose from their seats around him, sparking an emotional, unexpected reunion between the hero and grown-ups of the lives he saved. Years later, the That’s Life video has become one of the most popular videos on the internet, both a tearjerker and heartfelt commemoration to the hero some dub the “British Schindler.”
In ONE LIFE, Anthony Hopkins and Johnny Flynn bring together the recognition Winton deserves, portraying old and young versions of the humanitarian. James Hawes’s powerhouse film chronicles Winton’s rapid trajectory from living as a stockbroker in the UK to joining his friends in Prague in an impulsive attempt to rescue refugees living under Hitler’s regime. With the help of his compassionate mother (Helena Bonham Carter), Winton and his team work through sweat and tears, fundraising and resisting bureaucratic authority to complete their mission. Winton’s memories of his wartime efforts inundate his mind years later upon discovering copious folders and notes inside his office, eventually leading to his iconic appearance on That’s Life.
Official Selection of the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, ONE LIFE pays tribute to a righteous yet modest hero of the Shoah, a man whose bravery should stay forever preserved in history.
ONE LIFE screens Tuesday, March 12, 7 PM at PFS Bourse Theater. For tickets, visit PhillyJFM.org/One-Life.