Seldom do we see a war film that is told from a female perspective. Sure there are female characters in war films, but these always act as something that drives the hero's journey to survive. Testament of Youth, however, shows the female relationship with war, particularly of the First World War in a time that was completely different to the one we live in now.
The movie is based on the memoir of the same name by Vera Brittain. Vera (Alicia Vikander) is a young woman living with her family in the English countryside. She dreams of going to Oxford to study and finally gets in at the outset of the war. Prior to this, she has started a relationship with one of her brother's schoolmates, Roland Leighton (Kit Harrington). This relationship is tested when Roland and her brother Edward (Taron Egerton) volunteer to the army and are eventually sent to the front.
The film does capture some of the issues that plagued women's rights at the turn of the century. Vera has to deal with issues like not being expected to get a higher education (or any education), expectations of staying at home and doing womanly chores, not at all volunteering for any form of service and, this was the most horrifying idea to men of the time, having the right to vote. Apart from female suffrage, which came a little later in the history of the twentieth century, I feel the film tackles all these issues in a rather succinct way. Toward the middle of the film, Vera volunteers to become a nurse and is not only looked down upon by her family, but also the nurses who think that this kind of work is below someone of her social standing. The film also tells of a heart-wrenching romance between Vera and Roland.
This film is a technical masterpiece. The shots are so incredibly crafted, with each one being carefully placed and framed. The camera also moves in not only fluid motions, but some movements are striking for the way they get the viewer to focus on a particular piece of action. The editing is also a marvel and is probably one of the most well edited films I've ever seen. The film occasionally cuts back to shots that we have seen before, most often when Vera is remembering time spent with Roland, and these are done in such a way that they are the reverse shots of what is happening in the current scene. It is a very clever way to do flashbacks and I applaud editor Lucia Zucchetti for this amazing style.
The acting also blew me away, considering I didn't have the highest of hopes for the two leads. Alicia Vikander is beginning to grow on me, despite a rather average performance in last year's Aussie crime flick Son of a Gun. She gives Vera a strong determination that makes you want to succeed in her life, but she also is able to convey the scenes with heartbreak in an amazing manner. Kit Harington is a lot better here than that brooding sad Jon Snow he is always playing. Supporting roles from Colin Morgan, Taron Egerton, Emily Watson and Dominic West are all fantastic, although I did want to see a fair bit more of West.
Testament of Youth is a heart breaking film that is very bleak, but it is also a fantastic film. Despite my feeling that the runtime was maybe ten minutes too long, you are sure to get swept along in the engaging, well written adaptation.
