Introduction

One Life is a 2023 British biographical drama film about British humanitarian Nicholas Winton, starring Anthony Hopkins and Johnny Flynn as Winton.

The film follows Winton as he looks back on his past efforts to help groups of Jewish children in German-occupied Czechoslovakia to hide and flee in 1938-1939, just before the beginning of World War II.

It also stars Lena Olin, Romola Garai, Alex Sharp, Jonathan Pryce, and Helena Bonham Carter in supporting roles.

Outline

A British stockbroker visits Czechoslovakia in the late 1930s and forms plans to assist in the rescue of Jewish children before the onset of World War II, in an operation that came to be known as the Kindertransport.

Cast

• Anthony Hopkins as Nicholas Winton
  • Johnny Flynn as young Nicholas Winton
• Helena Bonham Carter as Babi Winton
• Lena Olin as Grete Winton
• Jonathan Pryce as Martin Blake
  • Ziggy Heath as young Martin Blake
• Romola Garai as Doreen Warriner
• Alex Sharp as Trevor Chadwick
• Samantha Spiro as Esther Rantzen

Production

In September 2020 Anthony Hopkins and Johnny Flynn were announced as being attached to a bio-pic about Nicholas Winton called One Life. From a Lucinda Coxon and Nick Drake screenplay, Aisling Walsh was set to direct with See-Saw Films and BBC Film producing through executive producers Rose Garnett and Simon Gillis, and producers Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, and Joanna Laurie. FilmNation Entertainment and Cross City Films were to be managing international sales.

In September 2022 it was revealed that James Hawes was attached to direct his feature film debut whilst Helena Bonham Carter had joined the cast as Winton’s mother, Babi Winton. It was also revealed that Guy Heeley was on board as producer and that the screenplay was based on the book If It’s Not Impossible…The Life of Sir Nicholas Winton, written by his daughter Barbara Winton. Also announced as joining the cast were Jonathan Pryce, Romola Garai and Alex Sharp. Filming took place in London in September 2022, with principal photography also taking place in Prague.

Trivia

• Some minor location shooting at the top of Pinner High Street (which also featured in the Season 01 ‘Inbetweeners’ episode where Will tries to buy some booze).

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • James Hawes
• Producer(s):
  • Iain Canning … producer
  • Nicky Earnshaw … co-producer
  • Simon Gillis … executive producer
  • Peter Hampden … executive producer
  • Guy Heeley … producer
  • Kristina Hejduková … line producer
  • Mark Hubbard … co-producer
  • Joanna Laurie … producer
  • Maria Logan … executive producer
  • Norman Merry … executive producer
  • Sire Ramos … Head of Development: LipSync Productions
  • Anne Sheehan … executive producer
  • Emile Sherman … producer
  • Joel Stokes … line producer: Additional Photography
  • Peter Vaughan … Development Producer: LipSync Productions
  • Barbara Winton … executive producer
  • Eva Yates … executive producer
• Writer(s):
  • Lucinda Coxon
  • Nick Drake
• Music:
  • Volker Bertelmann
• Cinematography:
  • Zac Nicholson
• Editor(s):
  • Lucia Zucchetti
• Production:
  • See-Saw Films
  • MBK Productions (presents)
  • BBC Film
• Distributor(s):
  • Bleecker Street Media (United States, 2023)(theatrical)
  • Diamond Films (Brazil)(theatrical)
  • Exponenta (Russia, 2024)(theatrical)
  • Warner Bros. Pictures (United Kingdom, 2024)(theatrical)
  • Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (Switzerland, 2024)
  • BGFilm (Turkey, 2024)
  • The Searchers (Belgium, 2024)
  • The Searchers (Netherlands, 2024)
• Release Date:
  • 09 September 2023 (Toronto International Film Festival, Canada).
  • 05 January 2024 (theatrical release, UK).
• Running Time: 110 minutes.
• Rating: Unknown.
• Country: UK.
• Language: English.

Video Link(s)