Testament of Youth

"Divided by war. United by love."

Jan 16 2015 PG-13 2h 9m
Biography, Drama, History

Testament of Youth is a powerful story of love, war and remembrance, based on the First World War memoir by Vera Brittain, which has become the classic testimony of that war from a woman’s point of view. A searing journey from youthful hopes and dreams to the edge of despair and back again, it’s a film about young love, the futility of war and how to make sense of the darkest times.

Plot

A long, long time ago, back in the spring of 1914, they were so happy together. There was Vera Brittain, an upper class girl with ideas of her own; and her bright brother Edward; and his group of friends among whom Roland Leighton, wonderful, handsome, sensitive Roland Vera had fallen for... Always having great times together talking, laughing, exchanging ideas, walking, eating, swimming together; all of them envisioning the glittering future they deserved: Vera, despite her father's opposition, would study at Oxford, marry Roland and be a famous writer; Roland, as for him, would be acclaimed as a great poet while Edward and his friends would each become a prominent figure in his respective field... But then came that fateful day on 4 August 1914 when Britain declared war on Germany. All those beautiful dreams were to be shattered one after the other. All except one: Vera wound up becoming a writer... A writer but a pacifist as well.

Written by

Juliette Towhidi, Vera Brittain

Directed by

James Kent

Production Countries

United Kingdom, Denmark

Production Companies

Heyday Films, BBC Films

Languages

English

Awards

5 wins & 7 nominations total

Scores
# of Votes
31,555
Average Rating
7.2 out of 10
Metascore
76
Popularity
NA