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Testament of Youth Reviews

Nov 21, 2024

This is an exeptionally well crafted movie, highly recommended. The main actress Alicia Amanda Vikander is astonishing brilliant in this gripping drama, based on the 1st W.W. memoir of Vera Brittain. Alicia Vikander is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, and nominations for two Golden Globe Awards and three British Academy Film Awards, and I fully understand why.

Nov 9, 2024

Powerful, emotional and engaging World War 1 movie. I can't fault it in any of the production values. Exquisitely guided by an irresistible and magnetic performance by Alicia Vikander. I'd imagine both sides of the conflict, the young men that served, the young men that died, all would applaud the deeply felt sentiments this film nobly carries. I feel as upset as a film about this subject should make me. Highly recommend.

Oct 19, 2024

An incredibly beautiful and atmospheric film. The actors were able to perfectly convey the atmosphere in Britain during the First World War. But in my opinion, the most dramatic part of the movie is that it was based on real events. So, Vera Brittain, who wrote the book of the same name, lost her brother and fiancé. I definitely advise everyone to watch it.

Aug 28, 2024

An ethereal, poetic and enchanting examination of a world on-and-over the precipice as WWI challenges ideals, changes perceptions, warps classist structures, and reshapes a devoted and deferent generation whilst they grapple with what their lives will be in post-war Britain. I love that in all of this, VB's poetry, tenacity, and patriotism play with and against her intellect and growing pacifist beliefs. And that barely touches on the realism that shines so brilliantly. It is a deft and masterful artist who can bring such a sense of realism from such a delicate mix of emotion, terror, and turmoil. The cast and crew are incredible. To those laughable 'Top Critics' who see this purely as a chocolate-box period drama, with a magazine-friendly aesthetic, thank you for making me laugh, and for firing me up to type a more considered review than I otherwise would have!

Aug 23, 2023

The story is beautifully written and acted, with an amazing score. The movie really transports us to WW1, and it's easy for us to feel the characters' pain, making it a very emotional and enjoyable watch.

Jun 29, 2023

World War I overtaking the lives of young people. Long movie which didn't say much except war is bad because it costs lives, which is already well known.

Dec 12, 2022

It sometimes slips into melodrama but it is well made and acted.

Jan 6, 2022

Absolutely beautiful and devastating movie. Shows a very different narrative to the war and takes away the glorification. The soundtrack is as equally devastating - and yet, hopeful

Jun 16, 2021

After watching a Vikander period romance that I despised (Tulip Fever), I was a bit wary for this one. She gives a good performance here, but after seeing that Saoirse Ronan was up for the role I became more critical in analysing it amidst the belief that many could have done Vikander's work here to a similar or better level. Same goes for the rest of the cast. Dominic West showing up was random, as he tends to be, and Egerton, Watson, and the others all give standard performances. The plot threatens to stagnate at many points, but chugs along. I could never quite feel the chemistry between Harington and Vikander, and found their most dramatic scenes together to be slightly wooden. The unlikely tragic turns deviating from the classic period formula gains its originality from the source material, but still ironically conclude on a familiar note of desperation to present a worthwhile theme. The smugness of Tulip Fever never manifests itself here, but instead an uninteresting earnestness that provides only a marginally more enjoyable experience. The characters are not quite presented in an interesting manner as to which emotional investment would be possible, and this is the film's main downfall.

Apr 6, 2021

The lost generation with a female pov. Sad era, so much waste of life. Follows the book very well except her brother being left for dead. He was injured but not like the movie scene which didn't happen.

Jul 30, 2020

A poetic war story that speaks to the horrors of war and dying young, that takes a long, heart-aching trip through the First World War and through the story of a pair of lovers, of siblings, and of friends and family. The cinematography and film editing made much of the film feel a little like a poem, focused on the little things — the blades of grass, the edge of a man's chin, the corner of a blanket. There being a major theme of poetry in the film, this makes sense and adds a sense of beauty and thoughtfulness to the filmmaking aura. The acting by Alicia Vakander was splendid and heartbreaking, both in her various stages of grief and of mustered courage. By the end, we are left with a convincing pacifist message wrapped up with all the cinematic qualities you can hope to find (and more so) in a period piece such as this.

May 12, 2020

Outstanding production with extremely talented actress. Hard to believe this is a true life story.

Nov 22, 2019

If politicians were required to serve on the front line the lives of young people would not be so carelessly sacrificed in the way this film so brilliantly depicts. Five stars are not enough to ensure its wider viewing by every politician who sacrifices the young with insufficient thought, and by the young who need to verify everything they are told a thousand times and then a thousand times more. War is insanity until every other option has been exhausted, including justice in peacetime pursued with the same or greater energy than efforts used in war. War is the product of apathy and injustice in peacetime. This film shows the tragedy of wars that follow the tragedies of unjust peace.

Nov 11, 2019

A beautifully made film that is both sad and inspiring! The cast do a fantastic job, especially Alicia, Kit and Taron. I'm so glad I saw this film though I cried so much!

Sep 5, 2019

Testament of Youth is a well done movie, the story makes you go trough several emotions, you laugh and cried for all the situations that take place for this youg women in the First World War. The film adaptation makes you lived the story with Vera and get worried for all the young mens that had gone to the front to fight and never back. It also make you wonder what it is the purpose of all this wars if everyone lose something. Alicia Vikander is a perfect Vera Brittain, she transmit all her feelings and emotions perfectly.

Jun 14, 2019

A beautiful and emotional period drama. Great performance from Kit Harington and Alicia Vikander

May 3, 2019

Testament of Youth is based on the life of Vera Brittain during WWI but it feels like it could be the story of thousands of women during that time. That's definitely what is most compelling about this film. On top of that Alicia Vikander gave us a heartfelt portray of Vera.

Nov 11, 2018

Outstanding film - this is THE film to watch on Armistice Day, 2018.

Oct 8, 2018

Cracking performances (especially by Vikander) amd the source novel sounds brilliant (added to my to-read list instantly), this film though it just feels like it glides across the surface of everything without ever really getting to the heart of the story. So much is touched upon but little of the elements live in the memory, perhaps tries to address to much.

Sep 23, 2018

A good story but sad.

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