One Life

Nicholas “Nicky” Winton’s efforts to save children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia on the precipice of World War II is the basis for this noble biopic of the British humanitarian’s life. Given the number of Holocaust dramas, audiences are used to poignant accounts. As such, the expectation for excellence is high. For most of the narrative, the movie presents a respectful, though conventional, portrayal of an extraordinary man. However, I will admit the ending is worth the price of admission.

We see Anthony Hopkins as Nicky Winton in the 1980s reflecting on the past. During the 1930s, Nicky is a London stockbroker played by Johnny Flynn. In December 1938, Martin Blake (Ziggy Heath), a friend and teacher at Westminster School in London, asks him to cancel his ski vacation and join him in Czechoslovakia. Martin is with the British Committee for Refugees from Czechoslovakia, established to aid refugees displaced by the German annexation of the Sudeten regions after the Munich Pact. Concerned about the impending war in Europe, Nicky agrees and travels to Prague. Martin introduces him to Doreen Wariner (Romola Garai) and Trevor Chadwick (Alex Sharp), who arrange a visit to refugee camps housing Jews and political opponents from the Sudetenland. The experience significantly affects him.

Inspired by the rescue of youths from Nazi German territory to the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, Nicky wanted to organize a similar extrication for endangered children in Czechoslovakia. Setting up a Children’s Section, he began taking applications from parents in Prague, eventually assisting thousands. He returned to London, raising funds and finding foster families to support the operation. Nicky’s mother, Babi (Helena Bonham Carter), helps him with fundraising pursuits and navigates the complexities of the British bureaucracy.

Nicky is dedicated to the cause, tirelessly striving to bring as many kids as possible to safety in Britain. He ultimately orchestrated the transportation of 669 children to safety, overcoming bureaucratic obstacles and raising funds for the evacuations. Nicky’s contributions go well beyond the scope of paperwork and sponsorships. However, the presentation of his heroic acts is somewhat lacking. I found the dramatic weight of Hopkins’ performance as the older man far more compelling than the scenes detailing his efforts as a young man.

“Whoever saves one life saves the world entire.” This sentiment prompted the movie’s title and has inspired many. Oskar Schindler had a list as well. There are parallels between the endeavors of the German industrialist (detailed in Steven Spielberg’s landmark film) and Nicky Winton. Both men were instrumental in saving the lives of hundreds of Jews from the horrors of the Holocaust. Despite the differences in their methods, their shared dedication to humanitarianism and their profound impact on the lives of those they saved invite inevitable comparisons. The difference is in the screenplay by Lucinda Coxon and Nick Drake, which — unlike Schindler’s List — consigns the Holocaust as more of a backdrop than the focus of the story.

Nicky was a modest and humble individual. He kept his efforts to himself and didn’t seek recognition or praise for his actions. In his attic, he kept a scrapbook of the youngster’s names, correspondence, and other documents related to the Kindertransport operation that detailed his rescue efforts. Nicky’s work went virtually unacknowledged until 1988 after his wife, Grete (Lena Olin), encourages him to bring his scrapbook to the attention of journalists. The document ignites a reckoning with his legacy.

The conclusion serves as the crowning achievement of the film’s narrative — a tear-jerker moment so touching that one forgets how perfunctory the developments have mostly been up to that point. The journey of Nicky Winton encapsulates human compassion amidst one of the darkest hours of history. While the film treads familiar ground with its portrayal of a remarkable man’s deeds, it is the climactic crescendo that truly commands attention.

03-26-24